Game 11 - at Westside Warriors

Game Preview ...
The Spruce Kings start a three game in three day road trip with their first stop in Westside to meet the Warriors. The road trip will also include stops in Trail and Salmon Arm, but the Spruce Kings know they have to pay attention to their first opponent. In the season opener, the Warriors came into the Coliseum and handed the Spruce Kings an 8-3 loss. The game saw a handful of fights that are sure to have left memories that a month hasn't had a chance to fully erase yet.

The Spruce Kings are more interested in building on their recent successes and going into the Warrior's Den and leaving with a pair of points. Just four points back of the Warriors, the Spruce Kings have a chance to use all three of their games this weekend to close the gap and catch the front runners in the Interior Division. Both the Westside Warriors and the Salmon Arm Silverbacks are tied with twelve points in third place behind the Penticton Vees (20 pts) and the Vernon Vipers (16 pts). The past two BCHL Champions are battling each other tonight while the Salmon Arm Silverbacks sit idol waiting for the Spruce Kings on Sunday afternoon.

Rosters ...

Westside Warriors

2 Matthew Maher (D 6'02" 195 4/11/1990 Avon)
3 Caylen Walls (D 6'01" 200 11/7/1991 Lyalta)
4 Scott MacDonald (F 6'00" 180 10/7/1991 Vancouver)
5 Jason Nash (D 5'11" 180 3/29/1991 Oxnard)
7 Michael Quinn (D 6'00" 175 11/20/1990 Surrey)
8 Joel Woznikoski (D 6'04" 185 3/22/1989 Surrey)
9 Cole Wilson (F 6'01" 195 6/19/1990 White Rock)
10 Quinn Gould (F 6'02" 190 5/2/1990 Fort McMurray)
11 Justin Bertow (F 6'02" 180 4/18/1991 Saskatoon)
14 Kyle Singleton (F 6'01" 180 8/30/1990 Beaverton)
16 Cam Reid (F 6'02" 183 8/25/1991 Delta)
18 Colton Sissons (F 6'00" 173 11/5/1993 North Vancouver)
19 Dru Morrison (F 5'09" 165 5/10/1992 Russell)
20 Spencer Humphries (D 6'02" 205 4/30/1992 Delta)
22 Trevor Bailey (F 5'08" 170 3/21/1989 Winfield)
23 Alex Grieve (F 6'00" 190 5/18/1990 Calgary)
24 Brendan Ellis (D 6'02" 206 1/5/1989 Kelowna)
25 Max French (F 5'08" 160 10/7/1992 Kelowna)
26 Tyler Krause (F 5'11" 165 9/15/1991 Kelowna)
27 Izaak Berglund (D 6'00" 200 2/27/1991 Little Falls)
28 Grayson Downing (F 5'11" 170 4/18/1992 Abbotsford)
30 Cam Gorchynski (G 6'02" 175 12/4/1992 Chilliwack)
33 Kevin Jebson (G 5'11" 205 4/11/1989 Surrey)


Prince George Spruce Kings

1 Alex Wright (G 6'01" 185 4/20/1990 Prince George)
3 Wes McLeod (D 6'02" 185 9/30/1990 Kamloops)
4 Clayton McEwan (D 6'00" 180 11/26/1991 Kelowna)
5 Justin Fillion (D 5'11" 175 4/23/1990 Prince George)
6 Tyler Miller (D 6'03" 210 1/24/1991 Prince George)
7 Jesse Scrimbit (D 6'01" 180 12/19/1990 Sicamous)
8 Jonathan Gibson (D 6'01" 205 2/1/1990 Prince George)
9 Nick DeSousa (F 6'00" 180 11/13/1990 Fraser Lake)
10 Brad Bourke (D 6'01" 175 4/21/1989 Onoway)
11 Kyle Manlow (F 5'10" 165 6/28/1991 Murrieta)
15 Luke Hannas (F 6'02" 185 9/9/1991 Williams Lake)
16 Jeff Earnest (F 5'10" 175 2/8/1991 Whittier)
17 Brooks Robinson (F 5'11" 180 8/18/1989 Duncan)
18 Colten Derickson (F 6'00" 200 11/15/1989 Westbank)
19 Joe Morgan (F 5'08" 180 4/7/1989 Kitimat)
20 Jeff Datoff (D 5'10" 160 5/26/1992 Nanaimo)
21 Stewart Lambert (F 6'00" 175 4/5/1990 Prince George)
22 Jeremy Wiebe (F 6'00" 180 7/20/1991 Vernon)
23 RJay Berra (F 6'00" 180 7/26/1990 Prince George)
24 Josh Pineiro (D 5'10" 211 8/25/1989 Huntington Beach)
25 Zac Rasmussen (F 5'09" 178 5/8/1989 Kamloops)
26 Sam Muchalla (F 5'08" 150 8/14/1990 Prince George)
35 Kyle Nielsen (G 5'10" 170 7/21/1990 New Westminster)

Game 10 - vs Quesnel Millionaires

Rosters

Quesnel Millionaires

4 Justin Sotkowy (D 5'11" 175 8/30/1990)
5 Sam Higgins (D 5'10" 165 3/23/1990)
6 Spencer Graboski (F 6'02" 170 1/6/1993)
7 Matthew Herskovitz (D 6'02" 200 12/3/1989)
9 Brett Howe (F 5'11" 185 5/22/1990)
10 Lucas Ford (F 5'11" 195 6/18/1991)
12 Huck Saunders (F 6'01" 190 4/9/1990)
14 Skyler Smutek (D 6'00" 175 5/7/1990)
16 Trevor Hertz (F 6'00" 189 10/11/1989)
17 Taylor Holst (F 6'01" 185 4/24/1989)
18 Erik Hansen (F 5'11" 175 10/10/1989)
19 Breyden DeCock (F 5'09" 176 3/1/1990)
20 Darick Ste-Marie (F 5'11" 195 9/19/1989)
21 Tyler French (F 5'07" 165 9/15/1990)
22 Mitch Galbraith (F 6'02" 183 4/21/1990)
24 Brandon Watson (F 5'11" 173 2/24/1992)
25 Rylan Stanyer (D 6'02" 210 4/19/1990)
26 Chris Kerr (F 6'00" 175 10/22/1992)
27 Eliot Raibl (D 5'11" 184 3/28/1989)
28 Tyler Billon (D 6'02" 190 7/18/1992)
29 James Werner (F 5'10" 185 1/2/1990)
31 Kirby Halcrow (G 6'02" 218 3/13/1991)
35 Luke Siemens (G 5'11" 165 11/6/1992)


Prince George Spruce Kings

1 Alex Wright (G 6'01" 185 4/20/1990)
3 Wes McLeod (D 6'02" 185 9/30/1990)
4 Clayton McEwan (D 6'00" 180 11/26/1991)
5 Justin Fillion (D 5'11" 175 4/23/1990)
6 Tyler Miller (D 6'03" 210 1/24/1991)
7 Jesse Scrimbit (D 6'01" 180 12/19/1990)
8 Jonathan Gibson (D 6'01" 205 2/1/1990)
9 Nick DeSousa (F 6'00" 180 11/13/1990)
10 Brad Bourke (D 6'01" 175 4/21/1989)
11 Kyle Manlow (F 5'10" 165 6/28/1991)
12 Joe Becker (F 5' 10" 175 1/29/1990)
14 Jordan Duncan (F 5'09" 180 1/28/1992)
15 Luke Hannas (F 6'02" 185 9/9/1991)
16 Jeff Earnest (F 5'10" 175 2/8/1991)
17 Brooks Robinson (F 5'11" 180 8/18/1989)
18 Colten Derickson (F 6'00" 200 11/15/1989)
19 Joe Morgan (F 5'08" 180 4/7/1989)
20 Jeff Datoff (D 5'10" 160 5/26/1992)
21 Stewart Lambert (F 6'00" 175 4/5/1990)
22 Jeremy Wiebe (F 6'00" 180 7/20/1991)
23 RJay Berra (F 6'00" 180 7/26/1990)
24 Josh Pineiro (D 5'10" 211 8/25/1989)
25 Zac Rasmussen (F 5'09" 178 5/8/1989)
26 Sam Muchalla (F 5'08" 150 8/14/1990)
35 Kyle Nielsen (G 5'10" 170 7/21/1990)

Weekend Moves

In two separate deals with the same team, the Spruce Kings added a couple of D-men from the Centennials in exchange for Andrew Pickering and some future considerations. The short version is Tyler Miller for futures and Brad Bourke for Pickering. Press releases posted on the Spruce Kings website.

Pleasant Surprise

Sometimes someone shows you something you would not have quite expected to see from them creating a pleasant surprise and leaving you wanting more. On Saturday night, amongst a disappointing loss came a bright light from an unexpected source. This particular player is a bit of an unknown being an eighteen year old rookie in the BCHL. More apt to drop the gloves then even try to contribute offensively - Jeremy Wiebe managed to get no less than six shots on goal.

In the previous meeting between the Spruce Kings and the Williams Lake Timberwolves, Wiebe left the rink wearing the hard hat for his efforts in that game. When I thought back to what transpired on Wednesday night, all I could remember was his two fights including one where he was jumped from behind and was still able to come back and win that one. In fact, I don't think I've seen Wiebe fare any less than a draw with any opponent.

Perhaps on Saturday night that was the thought when he met with his fourth different opponent from the Timberwolves in the team's three meetings. With tilts against Calvin Johnson (September 25, 4:30 of the second period), Anthony DeLong (September 30, 7:41 of the second period) and Keenan Bailey (September 30, 14:55 of the third period), newly acquired Casey Fratkin thought he would have a go with Wiebe. The fight started out fine for Fratkin, but didn't end that way. After getting the first two shots in, Fratkin found himself at the wrong end of a pair of rights and a couple of lefts that sent the twenty year old to the dressing room for the rest of the first period.

With the fighting major and being on a line reserved more for the supporting cast, I didn't see Wiebe on the ice again until the second period. That appearance turned into a scoring opportunity for the Spruce Kings as Wiebe found himself on a two-on-one breakaway with defenceman Justin Fillion. Last year's rookie of the year elected to pass to Wiebe who was able to connect on the one-timer for a quality shot on goal that left the goaltender no option but to cover up and force a face off.

I thought that would be Jeremy's one and only shot of the game and at the time remember making the comment on the broadcast that he didn't have the softest hands in the league but was starting to be known more for his rock hard hands. A few shifts later Jeremy had another scoring chance as he was left alone in the faceoff circle and directed a shot towards the net that was knocked down by a defenceman.

Head coach, Ed Dempsey must have saw something in those two shifts because the rookie found himself moved up to work with a new pairing and was even given some powerplay time. In the third period, Jeremy Wiebe ended up getting a lot more ice time and ended the game with a total of six shots on goal. That was good enough for me to recognize him as the game's third star on the broadcast, even if the lack of production on the scoresheet prevented the star selection committee from choosing him in Williams Lake.

On Tuesday night be sure to watch for number 22 and see if you don't see what I have been seeing develop over the course of the past few games. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you of one other thing that was different about Jeremy Wiebe on Saturday night ... he was wearing a newer light weight jersey as he was wearing the jersey with only one number 2 on it. I wonder now if he will want to go with the single two for the rest of the season.

Game 9 - at Williams Lake Timberwolves

Game Preview ...
This is the third time in four games that the Spruce Kings will have the Williams Lake Timberwolves as opponents and it is the second meeting between the two in enemy territory. On Wednesday night the Spruce Kings came away with a 6-0 shutout victory, but it wasn't easy as the Timberwolves played a physically demanding game that resulted in a few fighting majors and more.

Both Luke Hannas and Jeremy Wiebe were involved in two fights through the course of a game that resulted in game misconducts. For Hannas, he also drew a match penalty that resulted in a three game suspension of which tonight's game is the second game the Williams Lake resident will sit out. Despite the penalty tally on Wednesday night, the feeling is that tonight's game will be tamer (at least to start) as both teams are looking to pick up a win twenty four hours after a loss.

The Timberwolves were in Quesnel last night where they dropped their sixth consecutive loss on the young seasaon while the Spruce Kings saw their chances to hit the .500 mark evaporate in the third period. In the pre-game interview Ed Dempsey expressed concern that the team may have allowed the Surrey Eagles to steal those two points with a few missed assignments that resulted in "easy goals." Perhaps that was the catalyst for change as the Spruce Kings acquired a local hockey product in Tyler Miller.

With both BCHL and WHL experience, Miller could be a much needed ingredient in the lineup and especially the blueline. Along with that experience, Miller adds some size at 6' 03" and 210 pounds ... and only 18 years old. Talking with Tyler before the game he told me that he was very excited to get back into the game and was looking to make contributions with smart defensive play.

Game audio is on 93.1 CFIS-FM and also from the CFIS-FM Listen Live link on the Spruce Kings website.

Rosters ...

Williams Lake Timberwolves

1 Kirk Croswell (G 5'11" 175 9/23/1990)
2 Trevor Fitzgerald (F 5'11" 185 12/18/1992)
3 Casey Fratkin (F 5'10" 165 6/5/1989)
4 Darren Tarasoff (D 6'01" 195 3/10/1990)
5 Colin Wandfluh (D 5'11" 180 8/8/1990)
6 Riley Sweeney (D 5'11" 185 8/31/1992)
7 Calvin Johnson (F 5'10" 165 5/28/1992)
8 Dane Rupert (F 5'08" 170 4/16/1991)
9 Josh MacDonald (F 6'00" 180 5/6/1990)
11 Ryan Stanimir (F 6'00" 175 3/4/1990)
13 Laine Keyes (F 5'09" 170 4/13/1990)
14 Kyle Leung (F 5'07" 165 3/5/1990)
15 Quinn Gallacher (F 6'02" 205 8/5/1991)
16 Anthony DeLong (F 6'00" 165 2/8/1991)
18 Justin Hogan (F 5'11" 185 8/28/1990)
19 Keagan Little (F 6'00" 170 10/3/1989)
21 Keenan Bailey (F 6'00" 175 2/10/1991)
22 Justin Bardarson (F 5'10" 190 6/6/1990)
23 Trent Murdoch (F 5'11" 155 7/31/1991)
24 Jake Harcoff (D 5'10" 185 10/17/1990)
26 Josh Garneau (D 5'09" 175 5/4/1991)
27 Jake Diehl (F 6'02" 195 7/24/1989)
28 Kyle Beaulieu (D 6'03" 195 1/16/1991)
55 Evan Dauenhauer (G 5'11" 175 12/19/1989)


Prince George Spruce Kings

1 Alex Wright (G 6'01" 185 4/20/1990)
3 Wes McLeod (D 6'02" 185 9/30/1990)
4 Clayton McEwan (D 6'00" 180 11/26/1991)
5 Justin Fillion (D 5'11" 175 4/23/1990)
6 Tyler Miller (D 6'03" 210 1/24/1991)
7 Jesse Scrimbit (D 6'01" 180 12/19/1990
8 Jonathan Gibson (D 6'01" 205 2/1/1990)
9 Nick DeSousa (F 6'00" 180 11/13/1990)
10 Andrew Pickering (F 5'10" 175 6/2/1989)
11 Kyle Manlow (F 5'10" 165 6/28/1991)
12 Joe Becker (F 5'10" 180 1/29/1990)
15 Luke Hannas (F 6'02" 185 9/9/1991)
16 Jeff Earnest (F 5'10" 175 2/8/1991)
17 Brooks Robinson (F 5'11" 180 8/18/1989)
18 Colten Derickson (F 6'01" 200 11/15/1989)
19 Joe Morgan (F 5'08" 180 4/7/1989)
20 Jeff Datoff (D 5'10" 160 5/26/1992)
21 Stewart Lambert (F 6'00" 175 4/5/1990)
22 Jeremy Wiebe (F 6'00" 180 7/20/1991)
23 RJay Berra (F 6'00" 180 7/26/1990)
24 Josh Pineiro (D 5'10" 211 8/25/1989)
25 Zac Rasmussen (F 5'09" 178 5/8/1989)
26 Sam Muchalla (F 5'08" 150 8/14/1990)
35 Kyle Nielsen (G 5'10" 170 7/21/1990)

Officials

Ref - Kris Hartley
Line - Mike Boisvert
Line - Ryan Dawson

Game 8 - vs Surrey Eagles

Game Preview ...
The Spruce Kings will meet their first Coastal Division opponents tonight as the Surrey Eagles start a three game in three night Northern road trip. The Spruce Kings are coming off of back-to-back wins over the Williams Lake Timberwolves and will be looking to use that as momentum tonight and clip the wings of the Eagles. Surrey has been on a .500 pace since the start of the season and is coming off an overtime win, overtime loss and regulation time loss from last weekend.

Spruce Kings have been getting a few bodies back into the lineup and tonight Nick DeSousa will make his return after missing out on the last four games. On Wednesday night Stewart Lambert made his way back into the lineup and will be looked to help out as the home team will still be short a total of four players. Jonathan Gibson is a new addition to the IR list while Luke Hannas will start his three game suspension tonight after being assessed with a match penalty in Williams Lake on Wednesday night.

Rosters ...

Surrey Eagles

1 Paul Barclay (G 5' 11" 185 6/5/1989)
3 Wesley Vannieuwenhuizen (D 6' 03" 205 4/20/1992)
4 Jeff Regier (D 6' 01" 195 1/3/1991)
5 Paul Levarsky (D 6' 01" 205 1/16/1989)
6 Derek Henderson (D 5' 11" 188 2/9/1990)
7 Doug Marshall (D 6' 02" 200 2/16/1990)
10 Morgan Bonner (F 5' 10" 185 3/23/1991)
11 Jamus Lane (F 6' 01" 195 2/8/1992)
13 Michael Krgovich (F 6' 00" 180 1/29/1990)
14 Jason Grecica (F 6' 02" 205 5/5/1990)
16 Manraj Hayer (F 5' 09" 155 1/20/1993)
17 Bradley McGowan (F 5' 11" 175 4/9/1990)
20 Richard Vanderhoek (F 5' 10" 180 1/20/1991)
21 Erik Cooper (F 5' 10" 172 10/30/1991)
22 Jesse Pauls (D 5' 10" 160 2/10/1992)
24 Neil Blunden (D 5' 11" 176 2/5/1990)
27 Cole Gelley (D 6' 00" 180 1/14/1991)
28 Clayton Chessa (F 5' 10" 185 4/22/1991)
29 Vinny Lessard (G 6' 01" 185 5/11/1990)
66 Grant Toulmin (F 6' 05" 210 3/2/1989)
86 Tyler Morley (F 5' 08" 160 12/19/1991)
89 Andrew Wallace (F 5' 10" 180 4/27/1989)
96 Chris Santiago (F 5' 11" 180 9/22/1989)


Prince George Spruce Kings

1 Alex Wright (G 6' 01" 185 4/20/1990)
3 Wes McLeod (D 6' 02" 185 9/30/1990)
4 Clayton McEwan (D 6' 00" 180 11/26/1991)
5 Justin Fillion (D 5' 11" 175 4/23/1990)
7 Jesse Scrimbit (D 6' 01" 180 12/19/1990)
8 Jonathan Gibson (D 6' 01" 205 2/1/1990)
9 Nick DeSousa (F 6' 00" 180 11/13/1990)
10 Andrew Pickering (F 5' 10" 175 6/2/1989)
11 Kyle Manlow (F 5' 10" 165 6/28/1991)
12 Joe Becker (F 5' 10" 180 1/29/1990)
15 Luke Hannas (F 6' 02" 185 9/9/1991)
16 Jeff Earnest (F 5' 10" 175 2/8/1991)
17 Brooks Robinson (F 5' 11" 180 8/18/1989)
18 Colten Derickson (F 6' 00" 200 11/15/1989)
19 Joe Morgan (F 5' 08" 180 4/7/1989)
20 Jeff Datoff (D 5' 10" 160 5/26/1992)
21 Stewart Lambert (F 6' 00" 175 4/5/1990)
22 Jeremy Wiebe (F 6' 00" 180 7/20/1991)
23 RJay Berra (F 6' 00" 180 7/26/1990)
24 Josh Pineiro (D 5' 10" 211 8/25/1989)
25 Zac Rasmussen (F 5' 09" 178 5/8/1989)
26 Sam Muchalla (F 5' 08" 150 8/14/1990)
35 Kyle Nielsen (G 5' 10" 170 7/21/1990)

Source of Contributions

Looking at the score sheets over the past couple of games it's not hard to see who is contributing. The top line of Sam Muchalla, Brooks Robinson and Joe Morgan have combined for a total of 21 points in three games; add in Wes McLeod and there's another eight points. In fact most of those goals have come from the veteran defenceman's stick who has notched five goals in those three games.

Robinson is the leader as far as being the setup man goes and it all starts in the faceoff circle for the twenty year old centreman. Eight of his nine points are assists coming from the hard work of winning and controlling the draw. Joe Morgan may not like the idea that he doesn't have a goal to show for his hard work on the top line, but being in the right place at the right time to find the right guy has paid off with four helpers.

Perhaps the biggest breakout over the past couple of games is that of Sam Muchalla who has lit the lamp in breathtaking fashion with highlight reel goals. After getting off to an admittedly slow start on the opening weekend that resulted in missing two more games, the Spruce Kings captain has been the biggest contributor with his nine points including one game winning goal. That particular goal showed off the heads up play making ability of another veteran from the blue line, as Josh Pineiro feathered a perfect bank shot to spring Muchalla on an uncontested breakaway.

That goal was scored on Friday in front of the home town fans, but for those listening to the game in Williams Lake on Wednesday night they also picked up on the American born player registering a Gordie Howe hattrick. Pineiro was probably the happiest guy on the night and didn't need any help identifying the significance of such a feat. Pineiro's goal is the only short handed goal scored by the team so far and full credit has to go to Zac Rasmussen and Joe Morgan.

Rasmussen found the puck in his feet along the wall in front of his own bench and turned on the rockets with a move that caused one Timberwolves defenceman to blow a tire creating a two on one with Pineiro and Joe Morgan trailing on the play. Rasmussen dropped the puck to Morgan who looked to be teeing up a howitzer but instead slipped a nice pass through the legs of the defenceman and onto Pineiro's stick. The play was so perfect that Pineiro had to admit that he never realized he had scored until he got mobbed by his team mates.

One other player that has helped to lead his team to a three victories in four games and back-to-back wins over the Williams Lake Timberwolves is Alex Wright. The Prince George minor hockey product played the role of backup to Kevin Genoe last year. This year after some preseason seasoning with the Spokane Chiefs, Wright is looking at laying claim to the starter's role ... something he is well on his way to doing. Already in the top five among Spruce Kings netminders for shutouts, goals against average and save percentage, Wright is looking to find his place in the record book for all time wins as well.

Again those are hard numbers that can be crunched at any time by anybody, what isn't nearly as noticeable is the contributions of the unsung heros. Following the game in Williams Lake, Jeremy Wiebe came out of the dressing room wearing the Spruce Kings hard hat for his efforts in the game. If you don't think that is an honour, I beg to differ especially after seeing Jeremy still wearing his hard hat following a Thursday skate. Wiebe found himself involved in two fights Wednesday night and in all had to answer the call against three different Timberwolves over the two games ... that call was answered successfully each and everytime I might add.

Now all of these players and the long list of players not mentioned here comes the task of maintaining their momentum and reaching that all important .500 mark. The Spruce Kings will head into a pair of weekend games against the Surrey Eagles (Friday) and the Williams Lake Timberwolves (Saturday) with a chance to register more wins than losses on the season.

Currently sitting with three wins and four losses, the Spruce Kings know they control their own fate and will be ready for the challenge of their first Coastal Division opponent on Friday night. Game time at the Coliseum is 7:00pm with the game available on 93.1 CFIS-FM and also online from the Spruce Kings website as well as the BCHL Fanzone for those that won't be able to attend in person.