Adam Maglio: Spruce Kings New Assistant Coach

Adam Maglio
Photo from UBC Thunderbird athletics page

Adam Maglio is the next piece to the puzzle in Prince George.

Today it was announced that the Nelson, BC native will be joining the Spruce Kings for the 2015-2016 BCHL season as assistant coach. After playing in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League for two years, he played in the NCAA for two years with Morrisville State College, and finally moved back to UBC where he spent two years in the CIS. 

As any other coach would do, Adam then moved over to Hong Kong where he directed a hockey program for two years. Last season he made the move back to the Lower Mainland where he helped coach his old team at UBC. 

I had the opportunity to chat with Adam, and get his thoughts on this coming season.




What are you most looking forward to this season in coaching the Spruce Kings?

“I’m personally really looking forward to coaching in the junior ranks. It’s a little bit of a different situation than coaching at the university level, so on my end I’m really excited on working with Mike [Hawes] and Chad [van Diemen] and developing our players.”

The BCHL is a league that has a large focus on development. How do you think you can help the players on this team develop as a recent player yourself? 

“From an off ice perspective it’s preparing them for time management, a level of fitness they need to play at that level, and it’s just a transition going into the college ranks from a mental standpoint.  I think from an on ice perspective, integrating the right systems and how to play the game the right way, knowing how they’re going to move into a university level, and how they’re going to be coached at that level is important too.” 

It's going to be both your's and Chad's first season coaching in Prince George, how do you expect that change to be both for the team, and yourselves? 

“I think it’ll be a good transition, I know coming in to the first year on the job you’re definitely really excited, and I know we’re both really excited about the game. The BCHL is a really good level, and there are good players. I think we’ll bring a lot of energy, and for me there are some learning curves as well with working in a different league and a different level of player. Chad’s been there, so he holds the experience at this level and that’ll serve him well, and serve us well as a coaching staff.”

What is your best trait as a coach? 

“I think I’m a real good communicator, I think that’s really key for me having open lines of communication with the players. Sending the right message and building the culture we want as a staff.” 

What are your thoughts on Prince George? 

“Prince George is a hockey community so I think as a coach, and as a player it’s somewhere you want to play. There’s a lot of community support, and it’s growing. It seems like a real good place to be.”

A Tough End, But What a Ride!!

Leo Fitzgerald scored a short handed goal

It was a tough way to end a magical run, but alas, the season has come to a close. They fought hard through 4 games, but couldn't come away with the much needed “W”. Tonight's contest had it's moments, but when the horn sounded, the better team was moving on. The game featured many wild sequences, most not in favour of the home team, with the 2nd period featuring an all out circus. But, let's start with the first, a period that was mainly dominated by the Centennials.

Once again, the Centennials opened up the scoring, but this time it took them over 18 minutes to find the back of the net. The goal came on the power play, by who else than the Spruce Kings killer in the series, Evan Stack. The Centennials forward scored the overtime winner the night before and had already potted a game winner earlier in the series. The goal was the only one in the first period, with the shots all tied at 10. Merritt did out chance the Spruce Kings in the period, and were really taking it to the home team. Prince George came out a little tentative, and it showed.

The second period is where things really started to unravel for Prince George. Leo Fitzgerald scored a short handed marker half way through the 2nd to tie the game up and send the fans into a frenzy. It didn't last long though as a weird transition saw Tyson Witala get hauled down going after yet another short handed breakaway. Shortly after Jarryd Ten Vaanholt dropped to the ice after taking a knee on knee hit, which then lead to Merritt breaking in on a 3 on 1 and scoring their second power play goal of the game. Chad Brears would get the goal, but the whole scenario took only 10 seconds, and left the fans furious. The crowd rained down boos, chanting “NO GOAL” over and over, which obviously fell to deaf ears. From a broadcasting stand point, I agreed with them. Tyson Witala was clearly interfered with on his way to the puck. I understand letting teams decide the game in playoffs, but that's not what happened. The non call and subsequent goal changed the tempo of the game, and took away any momentum that Prince George had gathered with the short handed marker.

After all of this, Paul De Jersey ended up losing his cool, cross checking Brent Fletcher in the chops behind the play to get himself ejected from the hockey game. It was obviously emotions boiling over, but the penalty put his team in a 5 minute short handed scenario, and took yet another weapon away. Merritt wouldn't capitalize on the major penalty, but 9 minutes later Carter Shinkaruk put a wrister past a screened Ty Swabb to out a strangle hold on the hockey game.

The third period saw Prince George receive 3 power play opportunities, but non of which would produced goals. Before it was all said and done though, Captain Ben Matthews showed why he is the captain of this hockey club. With 15 seconds on the clock, Merritt trickle a puck towards the empty Prince George net, but in a last second desperation move, Matthews fought off a Centennials, dove out, and swiped it off the goal line. The move caused him to go face first into the post, but it really showed why he was made captain. He has the heart of a champion, and with 15 seconds remaining, some would have packed it in and let the puck go to protect himself, but not Mr. Ben Matthews.

The game would end 3-1, giving Merritt the sweep over their Interior conference rivals. When the dust settled, Prince George was just out matched by a group of players that were playing as a complete unit. Merritt doesn’t have the flashiest of guys, or the top scorers of the league. What they have is a hard nosed style, and a group of men who go to war. Package that with a fine goaltending performance by Laval native Lino Chimienti, and they are a force to be reckoned with next round.

The Three Stars:

3)(PG)Michael Colantone

2)(PG)Ben Matthews

1)(PG)Jarryd Ten Vaanholt

To read the full box score recap, click here.

Next Up:

As we said before, it was a magical season that eventually had to come to an end. I don't think many fans expected it to go down this way, but sometimes that's just hockey. It'll be a tough way for some of these players to end their BCHL careers, but they can hold their heads high knowing they've helped rejuvenate a franchise and a city. We will take a couple of days to regroup, and then give you one final run down on the season and our final thoughts on this blog. Thanks for everything this season, we could not have done it with out YOU, the fans!

It's Do or Die Now....

Another very entertaining game at the Castle, but this time, the home team couldn't come away with the “W”. Game 3 in the best of 7 with Merritt was what a lot of us expected, a close, gritty contest that would take until the final shot or two to decide. Ultimately, that is what we got, as Merritt took another win, but this time needing an extra frame. The Spruce Kings certainly aren't eliminated yet, but they have a big hole to climb out of, and they don't have a lot of time to figure out how to do it. If they plan on picking up their first win of the series tomorrow, they will need a much better start than they did tonight.

We talked about it during the pre game, how the Spruce Kings needed to establish their game earlier. It seemed though that the playoff jitters had hit them as the Centennials came out flying, out chancing the home team early. They eventually got the games first goal, as Reece Willcox put home a feed from Jakob Reichert. The tally silenced the crowd, and got things off to a sour start. Luckily for the Spruce Kings, they were blessed with a power play opportunity, and Gerry Fitzgerald had no intention of letting the game stay the way it was. He put home a nice passing play that started with Chase Golightly and his brother Myles. The goal was the teams first power play marker of the series, although it wouldn't hold them in a tie for long. Sean Maktaak just 3:30 later to give his team the eventual lead they would take into the intermission.

Things then took a turn for the worst, as the Centennials scored just over 1 minute into the period to take their first 2 goal lead of the game. Dylan Chanter got the goal on a weird play that saw Thompson end up on his stomach, with a bunch of players just standing around, wondering where the puck even was. As it turned out, it bounced back to Chanter, who easily slapped one into a yawning cage. The goal sucked the wind out of the Coliseum, and left many wondering if we were witnessing a blue print of the first two games. But, just as we mentioned in the broadcast that we'd like to see more out of the top line, they responded with an energy shift that eventually saw Paul De Jersey put home a Michael Colanotne rebound. It was the only one of the period for the Spruce Kings, but put them down only by one heading into the final frame.

The third period ended up being owned by the Spruce Kings, but unfortunately for them, they could only score once. Myles Fitzgerald tied the game up half way through, and the building regained it's electricity. The Spruce Kings used that momentum to fire shot after shot at Lino Chimienti, but alas, could not beat him. Their best chance came in the final minute, as Jujhar Khaira had a decent look at an open net, but couldn't capitalize. When the horn sounded, the scored was still identical, so it was off to overtime we went.

The start of the extra period started as the third period looked, all Prince George. They attacked, and pounded away, but couldn't beat the Centennials net minder. Paul De Jersey even had a breakaway attempt just 30 seconds in, but he made one to many moves, lost control of the puck and allowed a stream of players to crash into the net stopping play. The crowd tried to argue that the puck had crossed the line, but Chimienti fought off the surge. After some more Spruce Kings pressure, the Cents worked up ice, applied a few chances before taking advantage of a fortunate bounce. A Prince George defender attempted to clear the puck, but it took an unlucky bounce off of a stanchion, bounced right in front of Evan Stack who than stepped into the gift, sending it top corner. Players and fans looked on in disbelief as Stack was mobbed by his teammates in Kirk Thompsons crease. It was a sour end, to a great push by the Spruce Kings.

In the end, a slow start, bad bounces and sloppy play in the first two periods helped cost Prince George their first playoff win since March 2nd, 2009. They had chances at the end of the 3rd, and even quality chances in overtime, but couldn't bury them. When that happens, you usually lose off of a unlucky, or in Merritt's case, lucky bounce. They'll need to play a full 60 minutes, and leave everything out on the ice if they hope to start the comeback tomorrow. They fought extremely hard at times tonight, and really poured it on the ice in the final two frames, but the disappointment of being swept now looms. They'll have to dig deep, find every ounce of strength and get ready for what they can only hope, is the ride of their lives.

To read the full box score recap, click here

The Three Stars:

3)(PG)Myles Fitzgerald

2)(PG)Chase Golightly

1)(MER)Billy Marshall

Next Up:

Plain and simple, win and live to see another day. Game 4 will play out at the Coliseum tomorrow night, with the puck dropping at 7pm. After what has been a magical season for the Spruce Kings, being swept in your first playoff appearance in a few years would certainly leave a disappointing taste. Battle hard, don't panic and earn another trip into Merritt. Don't forget, the game will be broadcast on CFIS, so bring your hand held radio's with you and get the full play by play as you watch. We hope to see a packed rink supporting the boys!! Let's get that playoff win!

Paul De Jersey, A Dream Season, And Could Get Even Better...

Paul De Jersey (8) looking for the shot or the setup

It was a dream season for Prince George Spruce Kings forward Paul De Jersey. The West Vancouver native came to Prince George through a three player deal between the Spruce Kings, Salmon Arm Silverbacks and Drumheller Dragons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League in August. While speaking with The Province Newspaper De Jersey mentioned that the trade initially worried him, as he didn't want to be known as the "guy who gets traded a lot." As it turns out, he never needed to worry, as he found a whole new life and vision in Prince George.

In training camp De Jersey impressed everyone who watched, but even the Spruce Kings personnel didn't know what was about to follow. Through Paul De Jersey's first 93 BCHL games, he amassed 11 goals and 23 points. The potential was always known, it just hadn't hit the surface yet. It didn't take long though; just 9 games in he ended up surpassing his overall goal total from the previous seasons. De Jersey had 13 goals through those 9 games, and was quickly letting fans and players know he had hit his stride. The fun didn't stop there as De Jersey continued to pile on the goals and points. With his line mates, Jujhar Khaira and Michael Colantone, he helped elevate the Spruce Kings both in the standings and in the public eye. The "big three' gelled immediately and instantly became one of the most feared lines in the League. Every night, when they hit the ice, you knew something special was about to happen.

De Jersey headed into the final game of the season tied for the league lead in points with Vees forward Joey Benik. It looked as though Paul may be about to lose his number 1 spot that he'd been holding for most of the season. But, the Spruce Kings forward had one more magical game left in the tank. In an adrenaline filled arena with fans and players feeding off each other, De Jersey set up team mates three times to help his team end Penticton's epic win streak. The assists were all that was needed to edge Benik out and earn himself his first ever Brett Hull trophy. Conveniently, it was the first time a Spruce Kings player had ever taken home the historical title as well. De Jersey ended the season with 41 goals and 57 assists.

As if that hardware wasn't good enough, later on in the week De Jersey was honoured by being named the top player in the Interior Conference for the 2011/2012 season. This would be only the second time that a player with the Prince George Spruce Kings would be awarded the Vern Dye Memorial Trophy, the other being Tyler Loney (2005). The fun didn't stop there as De Jersey was then voted to the BCHL First Team of All-Stars along side Penticton Vees forwards Wade Murphy and Joey Benik. Vees defenceman Mike Reilly and Vipers Brett Corkey along with Prince George native goaltender Michael Garteig were also named to the team.

As we said, De Jersey had a dream regular season with the Spruce Kings as he surpassed his career totals, won the Brett Hull trophy, collected a scholarship to Providence and helped his team get back to the playoffs for the first time after missing out two years in a row. He out did all the expectations and maybe even surprised himself. He was a force while working with Jujhar Khaira and Michael Colantone, and he'll need to continue to be going forward. His work is far from over, as the team gets ready to embark on what everyone hopes is a lengthy post season run. If De Jersey is on his game and continues his offensive dominance, the Spruce Kings will be a stern test for any foe going forward.

To read the announcement of all the Trophies awarded this season, and to see who made the all star teams, check out the BCHL website (click here).

The Spruce Kings have had many stellar players come through the Castle and many solid performances through their 40 year history. Is Paul De Jersey's 2011/2012 season the best we've ever seen? That is question best left unanswered and there is still lots of hockey left to determine that, but it is safe to say at this point, it most definitely deserves to be in the discussion.

Don't forget, the Spruce Kings will broadcasting playoff games, both home and away games on CFIS FM. Check back to this blog for all the updates prior to Friday night's Game 1! Prior to the game be sure to test your computer to make sure you can hear the broadcast and not miss a minute of the action. Tune your radio to 93.1 CFIS-FM or click on the "Listen Live" link on the radio station's website at www.cfisfm.com.

Spruce Kings Stop The Streak

Tonight, The Spruce Kings did something that hadn't been done since November 5th of last year. That thing, was beat the Penticton Vees. The Spruce Kings came close last night, but ultimately fell short of the bid. Tonight, they would not be denied as they dethroned the Penticton Vees for the first time in 42 games. It was a streak of epic proportions, a streak that may never be matched again in the BCHL, a streak that gave the league so much exposure this season. All good things though, must come to an end as the Prince George Spruce Kings will go down in history as the ones who bumped the streak.

At the start of the broadcast, Todd said the Spruce Kings needed a quick and fast paced start if they wanted to win this hockey game. That is exactly what they did, as just 2 minutes Jarryd Ten Vaanholt scored to send the sold out crowd into a frenzy. Paul De Jersey and Tyson Witala would add assists on the opening tally. 7 minutes later though, the Vees showed why it is imperative that you don't break down defensively against them. Wade Murphy broke in on a two on one opportunity, feeding Curtis Loik to tie the game up. The rest of the period saw both teams trade chances and hits, but the scoreboard sat at 1-1 heading into the intermission.

The Vees came out with a vengeance in the second though, as Bryce Gervais would add his 42nd of the season to give his team their first lead of the hockey game. It took the Spruce Kings a little longer than they had hoped, but Ben Woodley would eventually beat a screened Katunar to once again send the crowd of over 2000 to it's feet. After some more stellar play and saves from both goaltenders, we heard the buzzer sound, and everyone was given a chance to collect their breath. Much like the game the night before, the game was up for grabs after two periods of play.

Although, unless last night, it was the home team who would own the final frame. At the 7:16 mark Myles Fitzgerald would score what turned out to be the eventual game winner. 2 minutes later, Michael Colantone would add an insurance marker on the power play to give everyone in the building hope and a real sense of “could this be happening?!” The answer, was yes as Colantone would add the empty netter to seal the deal. After some brief rough stuff, including a tilt between Sean Landrey and Dexter Dancs, the buzzer sounded and the streak became officially busted.

The win gives Prince George sole possession of 3rd place, meaning they will now battle Merritt in the first round. This win tonight gives the Spruce Kings the best piece of momentum possible to head into the playoffs with. Dropping the Vees at home, in front of a sold out crowd will surely give every player in that dressing room a boost of confidence to move forward with. It will be the first time for most of the players to experience playoff hockey in the BCHL, but they can be sure of one thing, the city of Prince George is fully behind them.

Really quickly, I’d like to give a huge congrats to the Penticton Vees on an amazing season. The run they went on, may never be touched again, and that deserves big praise. They are a talented club who are still the hands down favourite to win it all. Hopefully we'll get the chance to prove ourselves against them in the playoffs later on. What an amazing series that would be.

Awards:

Another big time congrats goes to our very own number 8, Paul De Jersey. With his 3 assists tonight, De Jersey took sole lead of the lead scoring title, and became the first ever Spruce King to win the Brett Hull Trophy. An amazing accomplishment, considering he was a player who had only scored 11 goals in his BCHl career thus far.

To read the full box score of tonight's game, click here

The Three Stars:

3)(PG) Paul De Jersey – 3 Assists

2)(PG) Michael Colantone – 2 Goals 1 Assist

1)(PG) Ty Swabb - 25 Saves and The Win

Next Up:

After that amazing perforate, the Spruce kings will now set their sights on the playoffs and Merritt. The two Interior Conference rivals will start their battle next weekend, Friday and Saturday. Games 3 and 4 will then take place at the Castle the following Monday and Tuesday. If need be, Games 4,5 and 6 will play out on the following Thursday, Friday and Saturday. We'll have tid bits and previews for you all week on the blog. Keep checking our facebook as well, as we get you set for our first playoff run since the 08/09 season

The Final Two Games....

November 5th, the last time the Vees lost, 3-2 in Overtime against Merritt. November 2nd, the last time the team lost in Regulation. October 8th, the last time the Vees visited the Castle, which turned into a 5-4 double overtime victory for the Spruce Kings. A win that helped propel Prince George towards an incredible run, a run that will eventual see them reach the post season for the first time in 2 years. It’s been a wild season so far, and the regular portion of it is about to come to a close. The final 2 games, both against The Vees, will take place tonight and tomorrow at The Castle.

The Spruce Kings head into this game having just dropped a disappointing loss to the Vernon Vipers. The game was the Spruce Kings third in three days, but it was still an effort that Coach Dupas was not pleased to see. Prince George had a solid February that saw them go 8-2. They started off their March schedule by rattling off 2 wins, but unfortunately strong play by Merritt and Chilliwack makes it imperative that the Spruce Kings get at the very least, 1 point out of this weekends festivities. Chilliwack has three games remaining, and if they get 4 out of a possible 6 points with the Spruce Kings getting none, Prince George will be forced to challenge Penticton in the first round.

The Penticton Vees accomplishments this season have been much talked about. The team has rattled off 41 wins in a row, a Jr. A. Hockey record. Also, they just secured the record for most regular season wins. Add into the fact that they already have 3 NHL draft picks, multiple players who have committed to NCAA college’s, 8 players in the top for scoring and a Goaltender who is playing out of his mind and you can see why this is one of, if not the most talented BCHL team of all time.
Now the Spruce Kings do already own a win over the Vees this season, and it did happen at the Castle. It was a 5-4 win in double overtime as Michael Colantone scored with .2 seconds remaining. It was a win which helped raise the Spruce Kings into the team they are today. The Vees have only dropped 3 games since the loss to the Kings, and surely don’t plan on having a repeat of that October 8th night. These two have met 5 other times, with the Spruce Kings losing all of them. The Vees have out scored the Spruce Kings 29-11 this season.

One battle to watch tonight is that of Paul De Jersey and Joey Benik. The two talented forwards sit tied for 1st in league scoring with 94 points. Also, De Jersey is just 1 goal behind Bryce Gervais in the point standings. Gervais has 41 on the season while De Jersey has 40. Paul has gone 8 games without scoring a goal.

Stat Pack

-Kirk Thompson wins in bunches. Not since the start of the season, has he lost after picking up a win in his previous start.
-Last time these two teams played, Thompson faced 46 shots in the loss (Feb 26)
-Penticton is the only Interior conference team that Kirk Thompson hasn't beaten.
-Ty Swabb has only played Penticton once this year, a 30 save loss back in January.
-Ryan Reilly, Joey Benik, Steven Fogarty and Cody Depourcq are the only Vees who have played every game this season
-Michael Garteig has 41 wins this season, 11 more than the man who sits in 2nd place, Andrew Hunt. He has the best GAA, the best SP and the most shutouts with 5
-Only 5 Vees sit without scholarships at the moment

Game Time

Puck drops on tonight's contest at 7pm down at the Coliseum. We hope to see you in attendance for the final regular season games of the year. Be sure to make lots of noise tonight Spruce Kings fans!!!

It Begins Tonight...

It's a new year, and it's time for the Spruce Kings to take control of their own destiny. With a 2 point lead over Vernon in the standings, and 1 point back of the Chilliwack Chiefs, beating division rivals has never become more important. Prince George has missed the playoffs the past two years, and with the new playoff format, this year isn't going to be any easier for them. But if they up their game, even just a pinch, they can make a splash going forward and maybe, just maybe they can bring themselves and their fans back into the post season. They can start that up hill climb to the promise land with two huge wins tonight and tomorrow as they will host the Westside Warriors. Westside skates into January after a rough last couple of months, having only nabbed 3 wins in the month of December.

One of those wins though, came at the hands of the Spruce Kings, as they marched into the Castle and stole a “W” away. The very next night Prince George was able to settle the score before the teams played to a draw in Westside the next weekend. Including the game between these two in October, Westside actually leads the season series with a record of 2-1-1. They will play 3 more times this season, with two of those games being played at the Castle this weekend.

As mentioned above, the Spruce Kings control their own destiny from here on out, as they currently sit in a playoff spot. So with that in mind, they need not worry about what other teams are doing, they just need to win. Watching the scoreboard for Chilliwack and Vernon scores isn't going to help their cause, but winning will. This two game home stand against Westside will be a big tell for how the rest of the season could play out for Prince George. Taking nothing away from Westside, but these are two games the Spruce Kings need and should win. When you host a team, you usually become the favourite to win, but when you host a team that is below you in the standings, you are expected to win. Now that is not meant to take anything away from the Warriors as they are a very talented team who could turn it on at any given moment, and most likely will before the end of this season. Every team and player is in this league for a reason, and can win on any given night. But if you are the Spruce Kings, and are looking to stay in the hunt for the playoffs, you need to win the games you are “suppose” to, and that starts with tonight.

Who's Hot?:

The Spruce Kings top line continues to score big goals, and score them often. Colantone and Khaira have moved into the top ten in scoring as De Jersey continues to lead all scorers. But it's Jujhar Khaira who is getting the most praise at the moment as he was honoured with the “player of the week” this past week. Colantone also received an honourable mention as he had a hat trick in last week's game versus Chilliwack. Not to be out done though, the BCHL's leading scorer Paul De Jersey is currently riding a 16 game point streak.

For the Westside Warriors, Connor Dempsey is leading the charge, having notched 35 points so far this season. Dempsey had the tying goal in the Warriors last game, as his team eventually won it in overtime over the Centennials.

Game Time:

Kirk Thompson will get the start tonight, as both teams will be playing for the first time in 2012. The puck drops at 7pm at The Coliseum, with tomorrow night’s game happening at the same time and place. If you can't make it to the Castle tonight, you can listen to the game for FREE here. If you would like to watch the web cast, you can do so here. We hope to see you there, as the Spruce Kings march towards a return to the playoffs begins tonight

2011 Ends With a Bang

The Spruce Kings came into tonight;s match up on a high note, having dumped another division rival just two nights before. Trail came into this match up fresh off the Christmas break, and it showed on the ice through out the first 40 minutes. There was one man who brought his “A” game the entire game, and that was Smokies goaltender Lyndon Standwood. Stanwood many miraculous saves throughout the game, and really was the only reason the Spruce Kings didn't run the score u into the double digits.

The first period alone he faced 14 shots, saving all but one as Michael Colantone got his 4th goal in the past two games. The goal came on a back door feed, one that was made by Jujhar Khaira, but not before Stanwood stoned them on the exact same play minutes earlier. The Spruce Kings continued to fire pucks on the Smokies goaltender throughout the period, many of them quality chances. Ty Swabb was not tested on much on the other hand, having to stop 7 shots.

The Second Period is where the Spruce Kings broke the play wide open, and were finally able to solve Stanwood more than once. Prince George was robbed on multiple occasions in the second, but Leo Fitzgerald made it 2-0, firing home a cross ice pass from his brother Myles. Chase Golightly would add a third marker, a shot that eventually went in off the body of a Smoke Eater. Stanwood faced another 13 shots in the period, but once again, he made a handful of saves that could make any highlight real.

The third period started off with a bang for Trail, as former Spruce King Connor Tiechko put a bouncing puck past Ty Swabb to end his shutout bid. It was a goal that seemed to spark the Smoke Eaters as Brent Baltus scored his 5th of the season, bringing his team within one. The Smokies had new life, and they were pressing hard to tie the game up. The Spruce Kings were back on their heels, and needed to find a way to get another puck past Stanwood quickly before the momentum completely shifted. It would take 8 minutes, but finally Prince George's top line was able to put the icing on the cake as Paul De Jersey scored his 27th of the season. Jujhar Khaira would add a fifth insurance marker, one that ultimately wouldn't be needed as the Smoke Eaters wouldn't score again, giving the Spruce Kings a 5-2 win

The win gives Prince George 39 points through 35 games, helping them keep their fourth place spot in the Interior Conference standings. Vernon won tonight as well, meaning they still sit in fifth place, 2 points behind the Spruce Kings

Click here to view the entire league standings

Click here to view tonight's box score

The Three Stars:

3)(PG)Chase Golightly – 1 Goal 1 Assist
2)(PG)Jujhar Khaira – 1 Goal 2 Assists
1)(TRL)Lyndon Stanwood – 43 Saves

Next Up:

The Spruce Kings now have a 5 day break and will next suit up Thursday January 5th and 6th at the Castle against Westside. Until then, we hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year celebration

The West Coast Road Swing Continues Tonight

The Spruce Kings are coming off of a HUGE win last night in Chilliwack as they downed the Chiefs 3-2 in overtime. The win helped the Spruce Kings stay in the close hunt for that 4th and final playoff spot. But they don';t have much time to celebrate, as they have traveled to Langley for a battled with the newly named Rivermen tonight. This will be the first and only meeting between these two clubs this season, so it should be a good one. Let's preview the match up now, between your Spruce Kings and the Rivermen of Langley.

The Breakdown:

The Spruce Kings have had an up and down season when it comes to wins, but compared to last season, it has been a brilliant turn around. With last night's win Chilliwack, Prince George as already tied their point total from last season. It's a stat that will make the players and management happy, but it won't too much to them if they can't find their way back into the post season. Both teams have had a rough going lately, posting identical 4-4-1-1 records through their past ten games. But only the Spruce Kings head to the Langley Events Centre with a win in their back pocket from last night.

As mentioned above, Karan Toor played hero in a 3-2 victory over rival Chilliwack in Overtime. The Rivermen though, were embarrassed at home, losing a 5-0 game to Powell River. Often times you see teams strike back hard after a bad loss, and look for redemption. It becomes the Spruce Kings coaches jobs to come up with a counter attack to halt a push back form the Rivermen.

With these two squads playing in different Conferences, they don't meet very often on the schedule. They played only twice last season, with Langley taking both “W's”. One came in only the second game of the season, at The Castle, a 6-3 decision. The other happen at the Langley Events Centre a few months later, but the result was much more one sided, as the Rivermen downed PG 8-2. This will be the only meeting this season between the two, so it will be interesting to see the game plans drawn up, and what kind of game we will see.

The stat of the day as we get set for the puck drop, The Langley Rivermen have the second fewest goals in the BCHL with just 88. Compare that to the Spruce Kings who have the 6th most. So if the Spruce Kings want to make this a statement game, I'm thinking the key is score early and score often.

To check out full standings and stats before tonight’s game, click here

Game Time:

The Spruce Kings continue their West Coast swing tonight at the Langley Events Centre with the puck dropping at 7:00pm. It'll be their second game in as many nights, with their third being tomorrow being in Surrey at 4pm. Be sure to check out the web cast of tonight's game here

Go Spruce Kings

Another Battle With The Centennials

Prince George is getting set to host the Centennials yet again tonight. It is quickly becoming the Spruce Kings biggest in division rivalry, thanks in large part due to the fact that these two have already squared off six times this season. The two squads have each won three games, but tonight, one team will look to grab hold of the lead in the season series. The games have all been competitive and fast paced, and we really shouldn’t expect anything less tonight. So let’s preview the seventh game between the Merritt Centennials and your Prince George Spruce Kings:

The Break Down:

These two squads know each other quite well, having played multiple times this season. They started off their seasons against one another in a back to back weekend at the Coliseum. The Spruce Kings won both of those games, but only were able to take one out of the next four match ups. The most recent time fans have been able to see these two play, was the BCHL celebration weekend, where the Centennials beat PG at home, then took them out in Overtime in their own home barn. It was a couple of games that showcased the physical dislike these two teams have for one another. IN the new BCHL, with the new playoff format, every night and every point becomes that much more important. Only four teams will play more than 60 games, and right now only Merritt would make it if the season ended today. Divisional games have never been more important than they are this year, and with the series tied at three games a piece, you can bet that both coaches have prepped their boys for an all out war tonight.

Although Prince George hasn’t faired as well against Merritt as they did at start of the season, they do have one big thing on their side tonight, their fans! The Spruce Kings are tied for the second most home wins in the BCHL. Home ice advantage is always nice, and the boys have definitely benefited from having the Prince George faithfully chant their names this season. On the other side Merritt has battled this season on the road, and they come into the Castle sporting a 6-6 -2-1 record. Though it should be added again, the last time these two battled in Prince George, Merritt was able to skate away with the “W”.

Who’s Hot:

The Spruce Kings top line of Jujhar Khaira, Paul De Jersey and Michael Colantone continues to impress and put up points. Shutting these three down becomes essential for any team that plays Prince George. The Spruce Kings two newest players come into tonight’s contest having impressed last weekend. Michael Betz scored his first as a King, and had a stellar night on the ice. Ty Swabb also recorded his first win as a Spruce Kings last Sunday, and will likely look to carry that momentum into tonight.

Also earlier this week a couple of Centennials and Spruce King players made the NHL draft watch list. Prince George forward Jujhar Khaira and Merritt defenseman Reece Wilcox made the list along with six other BCHLers. A big congrats goes to all the boys as they look to be drafted this season

Game Time:

Tonight’s match up will have the usual start time of 7pm at the Coliseum. It’s also the “Drop your gloves and sock it to em” night at the Castle. Bring some new gloves, socks, toques etc in a bag, and when the Spruce kings score their first goal, toss the bags onto the ice. Hope to see you at the rink, go Spruce Kings

Another Big Weekend Series

It's another big set of divisional games this weekend as the Spruce Kings will look to build off of their win in Merritt. Last year Prince George was only able to defeat the Silverbacks once, but it was inside the Castle. This will be the first time this season Prince George will host the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. These two squads are not separated by much in the standings, combine that with the new playoff format and that makes this weekend's games a can't miss experience. With that in mind let's preview the match up between the Salmon Arm Silverbacks and your Prince George Spruce Kings.

The Set Up:

These two Interior Division rivals have met just once this season, in Salmon Arm, and it was a game that was dominated by the Spruce Kings. Paul De Jersey, Jujhar Khaira and Michael Colantone were in on 4 of the 6 goals and combined for 9 points. The Silverbacks are coming into this weekend's contest on a high note, having won 3 of their past 4. The Spruce Kings will also ride a nice wave of momentum into Saturday's first game of the double header after posting a double overtime 3-2 win in Merritt on Thursday. Kirk Thompson was stellar in the win, stopping 39 pucks on route to victory. The Silverbacks suffered a disappointing loss last night to the Penticton Vees and then had to board the bus for the two game set in Prince George.

Who’s Hot:

The Spruce Kings continue to get superb play from their new forward and former Silverback, Paul De Jersey. De Jersey sits just one point back in the league scoring race and still leads the BCHL in goals scored with 20. Jujhar Khaira is another Spruce King who comes in on a hot streak, but for a few different reasons. Khaira returned to Prince George with gold around his neck having helped Canada West win it all at the World Junior A Challenge. Khaira also scored a goal in his first game back since the tournament.

The Salmon Arm Silverbacks have 3 different players who sit above the 20 point threshold this season, but it's their Switzerland product who leads the charge. Devin Muller has 26 points this season through 18 games. Brett Knowles and Morgan Zulinick round out the Silverback top three in scoring with 25 and 24 points each.

Bumps and Bruises:

The Spruce Kings were able to ice a full roster for the first time since the start of the season on Thursday; only Sean Landrey sits on the shelf. The Spruce Kings will once again be able to ice a full line up tonight. As Prince George gets healthy, the same can't be said for the Salmon Arm Silverbacks who currently list five players out with an injury.

Game Time:

The puck will drop in the Castle tonight at 7pm and then tomorrow afternoon at 3pm. You can catch the web cast on the BCHL website here. Or you can listen to the FREE audio broadcast here

Go Spruce Kings.

Who Will Win The Battle Of The Kings?

It's game day, and tonight the Spruce Kings continue their road trip as they visit the Kings of Powell River. Prince George visits the island after dropping a 4-3 decision to the Chilliwack Chiefs, a game that was decided by a penalty shot in double overtime. The Spruce Kings have had a tough go on the road this season, winning just 1 game away form the Castle. Can they change the tide tonight, let's preview the match up and see. It's The Powell River Kings taking on the Your Prince George Spruce Kings tonight.

The Break Down:

As mentioned, the Spruce Kings have had a rough go on the road, having won just one game out of six this season. They have lost two of those in overtime, but that doesn't make it any less sour for the boys. They played a dynamite 55 minutes against Vernon early in the season, but came away on the wrong side of things. Then last night, they tied it late against Chilliwack, but a penalty in double overtime gave the Chiefs a chance to capitalize, and they did just that. The only win on the road this year for the Spruce Kings was a mid week game in Salmon Arm, where they beat the Silverbacks 6-3. Prince George haven't faired very well though against Powell River the past few years. You have to go back to the 08/09 season to find the last time that the Spruce Kings have beaten the Kings of Powell River. It's the second game in as many nights for the Spruce Kings, and the second of three in a row.

The Powell River Kings also come into tonight having just played, a game that went into overtime as well, but they came away with the win. They defeated Cowichan Valley 3-2 at home, and will look to carry that momentum into tonight's match up. The Kings are off to another stellar start, sitting in second place with a record of 10-5-1 and are just 1 point out of first. The task of knocking off the Kings at home has been a hard one for every team this season, as they are a perfect 8-0 at the Hap.

The Stats:

Paul De jersey was back in full form last night, scoring twice and adding an assist on the only other goal. De Jersey once again has a hold of the most goals title with 16 on the year. Ben Woodley added an assist to his point total in last nights loss. The Ontario native sits in second for the most assist by a Defenceman this season.

Cohen Adair leads the charge for the Kings this season, leading in both the goals and points categories. Powell River also has a very talented defenceman who has been racking up point this season. Craig Dalrymple sits in third for scoring by a D-Man this year The Kings will be without talented youngster Evan Richardson and goaltender Sean Maguire for the next few games as they are with Spruce King Jujhar Khaira at the World Junior A Challenge.

Game Time:

This will be the only time this year that these two teams will square off, meaning we will unofficially dub this "The Battle For The Crown". Kirk Thompson is likely to get the start tonight as he had a fantastic performance against the Chiefs last night, making 42 saves in the loss. It's not known who will get the start tonight with Maguire away for the time being. Jamie Phillips started last night and got the win, but the back to back games could see former Spruce King Cameron Large start between the pipes for the PR Kings. Tonight's action takes place at the Hap Parker Arena with the puck dropping at 7:30pm. Former Cariboo Cougars play by play man Alex Rawnsley will call tonight's action on 95.7 Sun Fm. You can listen to the game live and free here, just click on the listen live link.

For One Day Only...

The Spruce Kings will look to make it two in a row tonight as they host the Alberni Valley Bulldogs for the one and only time this season. Prince George heads into tonight's match up having defeated one of their division rivals, the Vernon Vipers, last night. Alberni Valley comes in having won their past three games, but had last night off and spent it watching the match up between the Spruce Kings and the Vipers. Will the extra scout day help Alberni Valley steal 2 points, or will the Spruce Kings make it two in a row. Let's preview the match up to get a better idea of what we are in store for

The Breakdown:

These two teams don't see each other very often, but when they do, it's Alberni Valley who usually walks away happy. Playing two games against each other last year, the Bulldogs split the two games. This will be the only time this year that these two squads meet, meaning bragging rights are on the table. As we have specified before, the new playoff formats make every game that much more important. Both teams sit in fourth place at the moment, but, they each have a couple of team’s right on their heels. It should also be mentioned that this is only the second game this season for the Spruce Kings against a Coastal Conference opponent, the first being a win over the Coquitlam Express. This will be the second meeting for Alberni Valley against an Interior Conference team. Their first meeting was a win against Chilliwack. And although this is the first time we get to see Alberni Valley this season, we will see a couple of returnees as two former Smoke Eaters, Daniel Delbianco and goaltender Matt Larose will lace up for the Bulldogs after being acquired in a trade. It's not known yet which goaltenders will get the start between the pipes for either team, but with Beesley playing solid last night, we'll lean towards him for the Spruce Kings. As for the Bulldogs, both goalies have seen action during the three game win streak, so with a days rest, either goal could and will be ready to start

The Stats:

Jujhar Khaira had a fantastic game last night potting 2 goals and adding a helper. Khaira currently sits in 4th place for league scoring and already has more goals than he did all of last year. Paul De Jersey still sits among the league elite in scoring, though he no longer leads the league. But he still sits in 2nd overall with 28 points and is on a 12 game point streak. Michael Colantone continues to benefit from his new line mates this year as he sits in 9th for scoring with 21 points, 9 of those being goals. It should also be noted that Ben Woodley is quickly moving his way up the scoring list for defenseman. Woodley is tied for second in scoring by a D-man and is riding a 10 game point scoring streak. Justin Morello leads the charge for the Alberni Valley Bulldogs with 9 goals and 10 assists through 12 games

Game Time:

Again, this is the only chance you will have to see the Bulldogs this season, so I would get out and check them out while you can. For those of you in Prince George, the puck drops at 7pm at the Castle. For those of you not able to make it to the game, you can watch the live web cast here or listen to the FREE audio broadcast here

Third Time's The Charm Against Vernon

Third time's the charm when it comes to defeating the Vernon Vipers. The Spruce Kings played one of their better games of this young season tonight, handing the Vipers their 4th loss of the season. They scored 1 goal a period, and that proved to be enough to defeat their Interior conference rivals. The top line was stellar once again, as was goaltender Marcus Beesley. Let's recap tonight's match up between the Vipers and your Spruce Kings

The Look Back:

The first period started out as most do, with both teams creating chances while they tried to find their groove. It was the Spruce Kings who went to work first, as Michael Colantone put home his 7th of the year with his line mates adding the helpers. That would do it for the scoring, but that wasn't it for the action. Each team had their chances to put points on the scoreboard, but Beelsey and Kirby Halcrow each made some nice stops to keep it a 1-0 score in favour of the home team. The shots ended 8-7 for the Spruce Kings

The Vernon Vipers came out strong in the second period, and ended up tying the game up just 3:36 in. Marc Hetnik tallied first for the Vipers with Ryan Renz getting the lone assist. The Spruce Kings didn't wait long though to re-establish their lead as Jujhar Khaira scored on the power play 4 minutes later. Paul De Jersey and Chase Golightly were in on his first of the night. But Prince Georges new lead wouldn't last long either as John Knisely and Darren Nowick combined to tie up the game for the second time in the period. That's how we would head into the dressing room, with the Spruce Kings still leading the shot totals 22-20

The third period saw the entertaining game roll on with both teams getting chances, but the goalies were standing tall. For the better part of this young season Prince Georges power play hasn't been up to par, but tonight it seemed to click as Jujhar Khaira helped his team grab the lead with his second of the game. Woodley and De Jersey helped Khaira on what would be the games winning goal. Late in the third the Vipers did give it one last final push, pulling Halcrow for the extra skater, but the Spruce Kings held down the fort, winning their 7th of the season

The Stats:

Jujhar Khaira had another fantastic game, scoring twice and adding a helper. Paul De Jersey assisted on all three goals while Ben Woodley added an assist, taking his point streak this season to 10 games. Marcus Beesley was solid between the pipes once again, stopping 26 shots to record his 6th win of the season

To see the complete recap and official box score of tonight's game, click here

Three Stars:

3) (PG) Paul De Jersey

2) (VER) John Knisley

1) (PG) Jujhar Khaira

Next Game:

The Spruce Kings will look to build off of this big win tomorrow night as they will host the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. The puck drops at 7pm at the Castle. You can catch the web cast here or listen to the FREE audio broadcast here

We'll see or talk to you tomorrow

Spruce Kings Win Their Fourth Straight

It wasn't their best game of the season, but Prince George did find a way to capitalize on their chances beating Trail for the second straight night. The Spruce Kings actually found themselves down on the score sheet in the 2nd period, but battled back to take the lead and never looked back. Their top line had another stellar game, and Marcus Beesley back stopped them to their 4th straight win. Let's recap tonight's game between the Trail Smoke Eaters, and your Prince George Spruce Kings

The Recap:

The first period saw back and forth action, with both teams getting lots of chances. It became a goaltenders duel and Matt Larose was leading the charge. Larose had to make 13 stops in the 1st period, and 3 of them were quality saves, including a robbery of Paul De Jersey as he stretched out his paddle to get a piece of it. Marcus Beesley made a few nice saves of his own, as neither team was able to find the back of the net. It was obvious from this period of play that the Smokies were out to prove that tonight would be much different than the 8-0 loss the night before

The 2nd period started out great for the Smokies, and they seemed to snatch hold of the momentum as Nicholas Wong fired a shot from the point to open the scoring. It didn't take long though for the Spruce Kings to halt any potential onslaught of the Smoke Eaters as Jujhar Khaira put home a rebound on the power play. His line mates De Jersey and Colantone added the helpers on the tying goal. This goal seemed to wake up the Spruce Kings as Jujhar Khaira scored again 4 minutes later, with Paul De Jersey adding a 3rd goal towards the end of the frame. It was a tough 10 minutes for the Smoke Eaters, as they went from dictating the play, to chasing Prince George around the ice. We went into the break with the Spruce Kings leading 3-1. Matt Larose continued to be the Smokies best player, as had faced 31 shots through 2 periods

The third period was more of the same as the Spruce Kings were getting chances, and capitalizing on them. Sean Landrey scored his second of the season, finding the puck out front of the net as it took a weird bounce off of the boards. Trail would attempt to make a game of it as Clayton Chessa blasted a shot from the point past Beesley. The Smokies would get their fair share of chances, but couldn't bring the game any closer than it was. Paul De Jersey would put the icing on the cake, scoring his second of the game, adding to his league leading scoring totals. The Spruce Kings would finish of the sweep of Trail, tallying their fourth straight win over a division rival. The win moves the Spruce Kings record to 5-3-0-1, good to leap frog them into third in the interior conference division

The Stats Breakdown:

Jujhar Khaira was the Spruce Kings best forward on the night, scoring twice, including the game winner, and racking up an assist. The 3 point night would put Khiara into the 3rd spot of the scoring race. Leading that scoring race is one of his line mates, Paul De Jersey with 22 points in 9 games. De Jersey had 2 goals in the win, which brings his league leading goal total to 14. Michael Colantone continued to rack up points as a Spruce King, recording 4 assists, moving him up form 16th to 6th on the list. Clayton Chessa scored his 7th goal for the Smoke Eaters, bringing his point total to, 7. Marcus Beesley made 22 saves to move his record to 4-1 on the season. Matt Larose was incredible in tonight's loss, making 42 saves, many of them highlight reel.

Check out the official box score here

The Three Stars:

3) (TRA) Matt Larose – 38 Saves

2) (PG) Michael Colantone – 4 Assists

1) (PG) Jujhar Khaira - 2 Goals, 1 Assist

I caught up with Jujhar Khaira after the game to talk about his excellent play as of late, his new line mates and his new look Spruce Kings. I started by asking him about tonight's big win

download audio file

Up Next:

The Spruce Kings will have a couple of days off, and get ready to host the Coquitlam Express at The Coliseum. You can catch that game Thursday night at the Castle, on the BCHL website, or on our ustream channel

The Spruce Kings and Smoke Eaters Square Off

Another weekend set of games, and once again the Castle will be on display as the Spruce Kings will host the Trail Smoke Eaters today and tomorrow. The Spruce Kings are coming into tonight's match up on a high note, having won their last two against Penticton and most recently beating the Silverbacks in Salmon Arm. The Smoke Eaters have had a tough start to the season going 1-5-1 through 7 games, and are currently in a 3 game losing streak. It's another big weekend set between division rivals, and a couple of games that can either shift your season in the right direction, or stall the momentum needed to make a run up the ladder. So, let's preview this weekend's match up between the Smoke Eaters, and your Prince George Spruce Kings.

The Break Down:

The Trail Smoke Eaters have had the Spruce Kings number over these past few years, especially last year. The Smoke Eaters swept Prince George in the season series last year and has won 9 of the past 10 match ups. You have to go back to the 07/08 season to find the last time the Spruce Kings beat the Smokies on home ice. They are hoping to change that this weekend and fans should feel good about their chances. The Spruce Kings are off to a good start to the season, putting together a 3-3-0-1 record through the first 7 games. Aside from a bad game against Penticton, the Spruce Kings have been competitive in every contest and have shown that they can put the puck in the back of the net at any moment. The Smokies only win this season did come away from their own barn, beating the Centennials in Merritt, bringing their road record to 
1-2. The Spruce Kings are 2-2 at the Castle this season, and each time they have hosted a team for a back to back series, they have split the games.

News and Notes:

It looks like Paul De Jersey has found his fit in the BCHL as he currently leads the league in goals scored and points. De Jersey has 11 goals this season, which matches his goal total from his first three seasons. Clayton Chessa leads the Smoke Eaters in scoring with 6 goals and 1 assist. Marcus Beesley has started the last 2 games for the Spruce Kings, winning both. It's not known who will start tonight, but with another back to back set, expect both Beesley and Thompson to start, but the days unknown. Matt Larose has started 6 of the Smokies 7 games going 1-5. While rookie tender Reed Vogt has started 1 game, playing relief in another. It's not known who will get the start tonight, but look for each guy to get a start this weekend. This game will also see a few players square off against their old teams. Ben Matthews and Dylan Tappe played last season with the Smoke Eaters and although most of their old teammates are no longer with the team, it will still be the first time they take on their old squad. For the Smoke Eaters, Clayton McEwan is the only player to ave a link to the Prince George, having played 27 games for the Spruce Kings during the 08/09 and the 09/10 seasons.

Bumps and Bruises:

The Spruce Kings will be without a few players tonight as Jared Crossan (Hand) and Jeff Earnest (Jaw) are still rehabbing injuries. Tyson Witala has sat on the sidelines the past 2 games due to taking a puck off the foot, it's not known if he will lace up the skates tonight or not. Kyle Horseman (Wrist) is the only Smoke Eater who is listed on the BCHL website with an injury at the moment.

Game Time:

The first of this back to back home series in Prince George will start tonight with the puck dropping at 7pm. There are a few different ways for you to catch the game tonight. The best way to check out the game tonight would be to head down to the Prince George Coliseum. If you aren't in Prince George you can watch the webcast on the BCHL website here, or you can listen to the free audio broadcast here. Be sure to check the Facebook page and our twitter for more updates and analysis after tonight's game. Hope to see you at the rink

Go Sprucies!!!!

Spruce Kings and Silverbacks Preview

Salmon Arm, here we come! The Spruce Kings are on the bus and heading down to face the Silverbacks as you read this. It''s another important game against a division rival, and one that the Spruce Kings will be favoured to win. But this game is anything but a gimme, it will be another long hard fought battle with one team moving up a spot in the interior conference standings. With that in mind, let's preview the match up between the Salmon Arm Silverbacks and your Prince George Spruce Kings

The Break Down:

As always, especially with the new playoff format, games against conference rivals are must win games. This year, instead of 7 of the 8 teams getting into the post season, only 4 teams will see extra action in March. With Penticton, Powell River and Westside separating themselves from the pack, these games against the other 4 Interior Conference teams become even more important than they already are. Prince George currently sits in 5th place, with Salmon Arm just behind them in 6th. The winner of tonight's match up will temporarily jump into the 4th spot in the standings, and help build on tie breakers for the end of the season. This will be the first of eight meetings between these two teams this season, with the next one happening on November 19th. These two squads faced off six times last season with the Spruce Kings losing four of them.

The Spruce Kings are coming off a 2 game split with the Penticton Vees, winning the second game in double overtime with .2 seconds left. It was the Spruce Kings first win since their season opener against Merritt, and their first win over Penticton in 4 years. Salmon Arm is also coming into tonight's contest on a high note having won their last two games. It was their first two wins of the season beating the Trails Smoke Eaters in a home and home match up. The Sunwave Center is always a tough place for an opponent to walk into as the Silverbacks have found a lot of success skating in front of fans. They were 22-7-1 last season and are 1-1-0-1 this season. The Spruce Kings are yet to win agame on the road this year, going 0-1-0-1 in Pentcton and Vernon. Can Prince George grab their first win away from the Castle? Only time will tell

News and Notes:

The Silverbacks leading scorer for the season is Morgan Zulinick who sits at 15th in league scoring with 10 points . The Spruce Kings leading scorer in this early season is Paul De Jersey who sits in 3rd in league scoring with 12 points, and 1st in goals scored with 9. It's not known who will start in goal for either team come time for puck drop tonight, but it's a safe bet to say Kurt Williams will start for the Silverbacks. Williams has started 6 of the 7 games this season accumulating a 2-4 record. The Spruce Kings have went back and forth this season between Kirk Thompson and Marcus Beesley. In talking with coach Dave Dupas after Saturday's game, he didn't want reveal who would start yet, but did say at the start of the season they would ride the hot hand and Beesley is the last goalie to scoop up a win for the Spruce Kings. Look for the rookie Beesley to start between the pipes

Scrapes and Bruises:

Joel Kipp is the only Silverback who is currently listed on the roster with an injury as he has a ruptured spleen. Kipp will not play. The Spruce Kings are continuing to rehab a few starters as Jarred Crossan, Connor Tiechko and Jeff Earnest will sit on the sideline. Tyson Witala didn't play on Saturday as he took a puck off of the foot on Friday night, it is unknown if he will play tonight

Game Time:

The Silverbakcs and the Spruce Kings will face off tonight at 7pm at the Sunwave Arena. You can find the live webcast for tonight’s match up here

Go Spruce Kings

Spruce Kings Win Their Season Opener

Paul De Jersey (8) was the centre of attention all night
and for all the right reasons, scoring twice in a
Spruce Kings 6-3 win to start the season

The Prince George Spruce Kings have opened up their 40th Anniversary season with a win! It was brilliant at times, it was slow at times, but as they say, a win is a win. The Spruce Kings will look to use this momentum tomorrow, as they will host the Merritt Centennials once again. But before we go that far, let's take a quick look back at tonight's big win.

The game started as one would expect for a season opener. Both teams spent the first half of the game trying to find their legs and establish some chemistry with their new teammates. The all important first goal went to the Spruce Kings as Paul De Jersey capitalized on a broken play and put home a bouncing puck at 11:31 of the 1st. Scott McHaffie and hulking defenceman Ben Woodley added the assists on the first goal of the season for Prince George. Then Jujhar Khaira picked up where he left off last season picking the corner with a beautiful wrist shot that bounced out of the net just as fast as it went into it. The rest of the period saw the physical play continue; the period ended with the Spruce Kings leading it 2-0

It seemed things were about to get out of hand in the 2nd, as Leo Fitzgerald fired one home after some nice work from his brother Myles Fitzgerald and Ben Woodley. But, the Cents did not come to Prince George to be rolled over. They stormed back after that goal and controlled the next 10 minutes of play, firing all sorts of chances and finally captain Evan Stack put home a power play marker at 10:23. But, as it did many times tonight, the momentum shifted once again and an ill advised penalty by the Centennials lead to Paul De Jersey notching his second of the game setup nicely by line mate Jujhar Khaira. Again, the momentum shifted, and with just 27 seconds left in the period, Chad Brears made it a two goal hockey game and gave the Cents a much needed boost going into the dressing room.

The third period saw the Centennials come out strong, and come to within a goal as Evan Stack put in his second of the game at 4:43 of the third. That was as close as they would get as Gerry Fitzgerald scored twice in the third to ice the game for the Spruce Kings including the insurance marker 31 seconds after Stack's goal. The shots on goal ended 33-17 in favour of the home team. Kirk Thompson made some sharp saves throughout the game for the Spruce Kings as did Lino Chimienti for the Cents but the bounces went Prince George's way tonight.

Overall it was a game that showed at times just how good the Spruce Kings can be but also showed they still have room for improvement, which is exactly what you want from a win.

Your 3 Stars for the game:

• 3)Centennials: Evan Stack – 2 goals
• 2)Spruce Kings: Jujhar Khaira – 1 goal 2 assists
• 1)Spruce Kings: Paul De Jersey – 2 goals 1 assists

I caught up with the first star of tonight's game afterwards and asked him what he thought of the win to start the season.

download audio file

For a full recap of scores, shots, penalties etc, click here

The Spruce Kings will now get ready to host the Centennials once again, tomorrow night at the Castle. Puck drops at 7:00pm as Prince George will look to start off the season with a 2-0 record. After the physicality we saw tonight, especially in the 3rd period, we should be in for a great game tomorrow night. As always, if you can't be at the Coliseum for a home game, you can find the broadcast with myself and Todd Doherty on the BCHL's website here.

Season Opener Preview: Spruce Kings VS Centennials

Apologies for the delay and for the lack of posts this past week on the blog, I’ve just had a baby and understandably so, she has taken up a good chunk of my time. But it's finally here, game one of the 11/12 season, the 40th Anniversary Season of the Prince George Spruce Kings!! It's a brand new season and one that should have Spruce Kings fans excited. Seven players will be returning to Prince George for opening night; although Sam Waterfield won't be taking to the ice due to a knee injury.

To get a full history of the Prince George Spruce Kings as they head into their 40th anniversary season, click here

The Spruce Kings have a great chance to set the tone for this season as they will host an interior conference rival, the Merritt Centennials, in back to back games. Prince George had some mixed results during preseason play; against the NAHL's Dawson Creek Rage they finished in a tie after beating them at home in a two game series. They dropped games to the Westside Warriors and against tonight's opponents the Merritt Centennials to start the preseason. But, that is why they call it preseason - it is a chance to see which players will seize the opportunity and crack the roster, and who needs another year to develop.

Both teams will see players return to the organization, but the Cents have more familiar faces than the Spruce Kings do. The Centennials will dress 15 returnees to the Spruce Kings 7. So, let's take a look at what we can expect, a few trends from the past few years and preview the season opener between the Merritt Centennials and your Prince George Spruce Kings.

The Spruce Kings have 1 win and 4 losses in their last 5 opening night games and the last time Prince George hosted the Centennials in back to back games to open the season was in the 08/09, where the Spruce Kings won both games. These two teams battled 6 times last season, with Prince George coming out on top 4 of those 6 times. But, this is a completely different Spruce Kings squad this year. As we said, only seven players who grace the roster are returnees this season; which leaves fifteen new faces skating in the Castle on opening night. That though, is precisely why fans should be excited about this season. General Manager Mike Hawes brought in a lot of offensive fire power and big bodied defenseman at the end of the season and in the off season. Add in the fact that Jujhar Khaira now has a whole year under his belt, as does starting goaltender Kirk Thompson, and this is one to get excited for.

A few tidbits to watch out for tonight:

• 13 players from both rosters will take to the ice for the first time in the BCHL. How will they handle the pressure?
• Both teams needed to address special teams this off season as the Spruce Kings and the Centennials were in the lower end of both the Power Play and Penalty Kill categories. Did they do enough?
• -Speaking of special teams, the Spruce Kings allowed the most short handed goals against last year with 14. Here's hoping the added bulk they have on the back end can bring that number down
• -Both teams now have starting goaltenders that have BCHL experience under their belts.
• The majority of players that the Spruce Kings will ice tonight and tomorrow night haven’t played together before. How long will it take to find that ever important team chemistry?

Puck drops tonight at the Coliseum at 7:00pm with the big pre game tail gate party starting at 6:00pm. If you are out of town and can’t make it to “the Castle” tonight, you can catch the full broadcast with myself and Todd Doherty here. Check back after the game tonight as we’ll have a recap of tonight’s game.

See You at the Rink Hockey Fans!

Prince George Spruce Kings/Dawson Creek Rage Preview

The Prince George Spruce Kings are finally getting set to challenge a team in the "Castle" as tonight they will entertain the Dawson Creek Rage from the NAHL. This will be the second time in as many years they will play The Rage in an exhibition game. Last year they played the Rage to a tie in Dawson Creek before picking up a win at home in the final preseason game. This time around the two teams will play in a back-to-back home-and-home series that will be crucial for both teams in finalizing their rosters.

The Spruce Kings currently have 26 players on the roster and will have a few more games before they have to hand in the official 21 man roster. Tonight a few veterans who have already solidified their spots will sit in the press box and watch the action, but most will continue to fight for their jobs. One of the players sitting in the press box tonight will be 6'3" defenceman Sam Waterfield who recently had knee surgery. Waterfield came to the Spruce Kings late last season after playing with the Dawson Creek Rage. This would have marked the first time that Waterfield faced his old friends and team, but unfortunately he is not eligible to return until October 8th.

Three local products will take to the ice for Prince George in a bit of a homecoming. Marcus Beesley is one of three goaltenders who is on the roster, but of course, only two spots are open. Beesley, who is the only goaltender on the roster who didn't play with the team last year, will likely see some ice tonight and tomorrow to show the coaching staff why they should keep him around. Sean Landrey committed to the Spruce Kings after being affiliated with his home town team last year. Another recent signing and a Cariboo Cougars alumni from last year, Jared Crossan will also be in the press box watching the action from a little farther away then he would like to. Aside from the two already mentioned, Jujhar Khaira is another player that won't be donning the crown tonight. Instead Khaira is preparing to don the Canadian Maple Leaf after being invited to try out for Team Canada West and the upcoming 2011 World Junior A Challenge.

It's not known at the moment which players will and will not suit up tonight for Prince George Spruce Kings. That though, is the beautiful thing about preseason hockey. You go to the rink to see what the future holds for you as a fan. You get to see all sorts of line combinations, some that will work, and some you won't see again. You get to see the team as a whole, how they work together, how they answer to the pressure of an in game situation and all the new faces on the roster. Not to mention, you get to see all the siblings this team currently has on the roster (the McHaffie's, the Fitzgeralds and the Chore's).

This home and home series with The Dawson Creek Rage has unofficially been dubbed "The Battle of The North". It's always fun when you get to watch a team that you don't normally get to see, but then add the fact that the unofficial title of "Best Team in The North" is up for grabs, and this game brings bragging rights. Then of course, we go back to having the chance to see a young, new team hit the ice in search of chemistry and identity; all of a sudden this becomes a must see. Both games will start at 7pm, with tonight being at home and tomorrow being played at the Rage's arena, the EnCana Events Centre in Dawson Creek. Unfortunately neither game will be broadcast this weekend, but do keep an eye on the Spruce Kings twitter feed for all the updates and analysis.

Once again, tonight the puck drops at 7pm at the Coliseum. Head to the Castle and support your new look Prince George Spruce Kings. Let's start this 40th Anniversary season off right.

Hope to see you at the rink,
Matt Anthony