Spruce Kings Crusader: Recap vs Salmon Arm

4 Final Score 3

Guerra, LeBrun, Basilico, Trachsel,

Goal Scorers

Hutchison, Zieky, Thibault

Total Shots

1^st Period Shots

2^nd Period Shots

3^rd Period Shots

2 for 4

Power Play

2 for 4

3^rd Star

Nick Hutchison

Liam McCloskey

2^nd Star

Bryan Basilico

1^st Star

3-7-0-1

Current Record

6-3-2-0

Against Vernon, the Spruce Kings were down 2-0 after the first period, but turned it around against Salmon Arm, taking a 3-0 lead into the first intermission.

Early in the Spruce Kings were focussing on long passing from their defencemen to forwards, and it finally worked when Adam Burnett got a pass up to Nick Guerra. On a two on one with Parker Colley, Guerra took the show, and scored for his first of the season.

Price George had scored on three straight power play opportunities, and wound up making that go up to five, after goals by Jake LeBrun, and Bryan Basilico. Heading into the game against Vernon, the Spruce Kings had three power play goals. In the two games against the Vipers and Silverbacks alone, Prince George had five.

Rylan Bechtel got into a fight near the end of the first, and took an extra five minute penalty, and the Salmon Arm player got a two minute minor to go along with his fight. Once four on four ended, the Silverbacks had a three minute power play, and didn’t disappoint the home crowd with captain Nick Hutchison scoring.

That’s where things stayed for the remainder of the second, and Prince George went into the third with a 3-1 lead.

In the final frame, Bryan Basilico made a key steal on the side boards, and sprung Oliver Trachsel who snapped it home for his first BCHL goal. With their three goal lead restored, Prince George allowed things to stay interesting. Chase Zieky of the Silverbacks scored a brilliant goal, just lifting the puck over the shoulder of McCloskey to squeeze it into the top right corner.

That brought the score within two, and Colton Thibault scored off of a rebound after Liam McCloskey made a great first save. That was the second time in two games the Spruce Kings allowed a goal in the last minute to allow the opposing team within one. Once again though, they would hold on to take the final decision 4-3.

Epp and Hoffman each picked up an assist, and are now tied for the team lead in points with eight apiece.

Bryan Basilico (17) had a goal and an assist to be named 1st star of the game
Image By: Pure Life Photography l Chris and Jen Fowler

Turning Point:

With Bechtel taking a five minute penalty, and game misconduct, the Spruce Kings had a huge penalty kill after the two minutes of four on four ended. Salmon Arm would score once on the three minute man advantage to bring it within one goal, but anymore and it could have been a whole different hockey game.

Road Results:

After a three game weekend, the Spruce Kings managed to come away with four of a possible six points. That is extremely impressive considering the opponents were all in the Interior Division, which is likely the toughest in the league.

Rising King:

One of the more promising results, was the improved play of Braiden Epp. He had five points over three games, after gathering just three in his first eight. With Epp clicking offensively, it gives the opposition an extra worry, and can spread out the checking lines. That line also had a great two games together, as Kyle Johnson, Corey Hoffman, and Epp combined for eight points in two games together. Size wise they aren’t the biggest, with Johnson being the tallest of the trio at 5’11”. Epp isn’t afraid to play physically though, and with a tough defence group, that line should continue to do well up front.

Special Teams Rollercoaster:

For killing off penalties, the Spruce Kings had a great start, killing all five man advantages against the Trail Smoke Eaters. In the next twelve kills between Vernon and Salmon Arm though, they allowed five goals while down a man.

On the other hand, the power play got off to a slow start, with the unit going unsuccessful against the Trail Smoke Eaters on three attempts. The next two games were different stories though, as in the pair they nearly doubled what they had scored all season long on the power play. First against Vernon they went a perfect three for three, and then they picked up another pair in Salmon Arm. They weren’t able to convert on a five minute man advantage in the second, but since they pulled out the win we’ll let it slide.

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

1-0 Prince George Spruce Kings at 1:48 - Nick Guerra from Adam Burnett

2-0 Prince George Spruce Kings at 7:21 (PP) - Jake LeBrun from Cavin Tilsley and Kyle Johnson

3-0 Prince George Spruce Kings at 19:08 (PP) - Bryan Basilico from Braiden Epp and Corey Hoffman

PERIOD 2

3-1 Salmon Arm Silverbacks at 2:11 (PP) - Nick Hutchison from Michael Winnitoy and Mitch Newsome

PERIOD 3

4-1 Prince George Spruce Kings at 1:26 - Oliver Trachsel from Bryan Basilico and Matthew Stief

4-2 Salmon Arm Silverbacks at 3:49 (PP) - Chase Zieky from Damian Chrcek and Cameron Trott

4-3 Salmon Arm Silverbacks at 19:24 - Colton Thibault from Nick Hutchison and Chase Zieky