Wenatchee Runs Wild Over Spruce Kings

VS
1                                 Final Score                                        5
Hoffman	Goal Scorers	Harris, Rockwell, Bates, Puricelli, Raabe
18	Total Shots	50
10	1st Period Shots	11
6	2nd Period Shots	17
2	3rd Period Shots	22
0 for 4	Power Play	1 for 7
McCloskey	3rd Star
	2nd Star	Harris
	1st Star	Rockwell
0-1	Current Record	1-0

The roster introductions for the 2015/2016 Prince George Spruce Kings

     The Wenatchee Wild had a great opening to their BCHL season. Unfortunately for the Prince George Spruce Kings, it was during their own home opener. After recording at least a point in the last five home openers, the team had a poor showing against the expansion Wild. 

     The first period was quite close, as the team were nearly even in shots with Wenatchee having one extra with eleven. Brendan Harris opened the scoring, and it was actually counted as the first goal scored in the BCHL this season with five other games on the schedule. Chase Perry was perfect in the pre-season stopping all 55 shots he faced, but Corey Hoffman who was acquired in the offseason from the Odessa Jackalopes scored the team’s first goal of the season to tie the game at one.

    After that things went downhill for the Spruce Kings. They only managed eight shots combined the next two periods, but the Wild had no such issues collecting 22 in the final period alone. The second period was controlled by the Wild, and they had a pair of goals from Tyler Rockwell and Adam Bates to lead 3-1 after two. 

     Most fans, and the team will want to forget what happened in the third period. Prince George was trapped in their end for nearly the entire period, and had to fend off numerous power play opportunites from the Wild. Dakota Raabe would eventually put home a goal while on the man advantage, which was only two minutes after Brandon Puricelli scored as well for the Wild. Things would get feisty for the two teams, and captain Jake LeBrun received a game misconduct after a hit from behind. 

     What made the period worse though, was that it took the team 18 minutes, and four seconds for the team to register a shot on goal, and the two they managed (one after another) were on a power play so it was expected the team would generate some offensive opportunities. The final buzzer finally sounded, and sent home an attendance of 1,084 that was originally buzzing, home in a quiet mood. 

     There were two bright spots for the Spruce Kings. First was the play of the penalty kill, which killed off the entire five minute penalty that LeBrun received after his hit from behind, which included some time 5-on-3 when Braiden Epp went to the box for slashing. Second, was the play of young goalie Liam McCloskey. The reigning BC Major Midget champion stopped 45 of 50 shots in his BCHL debut, and the score could’ve been a lot worse without his stellar play in net. The rookie netminder received third star honours for his effort in net.   

     Tomorrow the two teams will go at it once again, and you can be sure the Spruce Kings will be out for revenge. Game time is at 7pm with the game being played in the Coliseum in Prince George. To listen to the game you can listen in on Mixlr, or you can watch the game live on FASTHockey.