Forgive me for bringing up that old cliché, but I couldn't resist after the gorgeous start to the day on the heels of what can only be described as a meltdown from the previous night. The Spruce Kings opened their 2009/10 season with great promise and were greeted by cheers and rounds of applause by the nearly 1,500 in attendance for the home opener. Unfortunately the newest incarnation of the Spruce Kings were shown just how important it is to play a complete 60 minutes in the British Columbia Hockey League.
After the opening roster introductions and national anthem was sung, the puck dropped to open the 2009/10 season. The visiting Westside Warriors went on the attack early, but some good defensive zone coverage and some early saves got the fans into the game and allowed the momentum to shift in favour of the home team. Prince George was awarded consecutive powerplays and while up a man on a 4-on-3 situation, Nick DeSousa found himself at the right spot and the right time to open the scoring and give the Spruce Kings a 1-0 lead.
Penalty troubles continued for the visiting Westside Warriors to the point where the Spruce Kings actually had a two man advantage with a third penalized player sitting in the box waiting for his penalty time to start. The Spruce Kings were able to test out their power play with the extended two-man advantage and it was during this sustained pressure that a high shot found the newly strung (tightly strung, I might add) twine just under the cross bar and inside the goal post. Unfortunately it was ruled at the time a save because of how quickly the puck came back out into the play. Maybe that was a sign of things to come ...
After a long run with no whistles, the Spruce Kings players and coaching staff had a chance to call over the referee to plead their case, but to no avail. As the play resumed, the Westside Warriors took advantage of the seemingly confused Spruce Kings and tied the score up at one. The Spruce Kings would get that one back on a nice shot by off-season acquisition Brooks Robinson and took a 2-1 lead to the dressing room after the first period.
The Spruce Kings came out strong in the second period and drew two more consecutive penalties against the Warriors in what would ultimate prove to be the turning point of the game. In their second two man advantage of the game, Prince George was unable to get anything past the visitor's netminder despite good puck possession and control in the offensive zone. Shortly after the penalties expired, Westside went down the other end and got their first good scoring chance of the period but were stopped by a quick whistle just before the puck crossed the goal line.
The Warriors were undeterred and made the most of their limited chances in the second period, scoring three times before the buzzer sounded to send the teams to their dressing rooms to regroup. The Warriors came out even stronger in the third and limited Prince George to just six shots while scoring four times on their 13 shots in the final frame. The game ended on the rough side with a total of three fights in the final minute. I fully expect there to be a suspension or two as a result, but will have to wait until the league releases its decision.
Meanwhile, under the warm sunshine of a new day, the Prince George Spruce Kings will have to turn their attention to the return of the Penticton Vees into the Coliseum. The last time this Interior Division team was here saw an exciting playoff game go the way of the Spruce Kings as they forced a fifth and deciding game back in Penticton. It is always exciting to see the first meeting between two teams that last met in the playoffs and I don't suspect tonight's contest will lack any enthusiasm.
There is always just enough players on both squads to keep memories alive and well and this is the stuff that builds rivalries ... so let the Vees and Spruce Kings rivalry begin anew tonight. Game time is 7:00pm at the Prince George Coliseum with doors open at 6:00pm.
On a side note, the BCHL Commissioner John Grisdale will be in attendance tonight as he makes a northern road swing. Last night he welcomed the Williams Lake Timberwolves back into the league after a two season absence and, after checking out things in the northern most stop of the league, will welcome coach Glen Watson back to the BCHL when he visits Quesnel.
Showing posts with label Glen Watson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Glen Watson. Show all posts
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Neutral Site Game
Well it is official and there seems to be a lot of interest in the exhibition game slated for Wednesday September 2nd in Smithers. This will be the first time the Spruce Kings have ever played in the city that has turned out no less than eleven alumni, thirteen if you count Houston and Telkwa.
The most recent graduate of the Spruce Kings to come from Smithers is of course Zach Davies. The four year vet and last year's team captain is now off to Quinnipiac University on a four year scholarship and will be missed for sure. But that is life in junior hockey, there is always going to be a little turnover giving new players a chance to show what they are capable of bringing to the game.
That is what can be expected for the fans in Smithers that are expected to fill the Civic Centre at the base of Hudson Bay Mountain for the game. The desire to win and be competitive is always there whether it be a playoff game or a preseason test for new players. Those trying to find a spot on the roster will want to show that they have what it takes to play at this level.
The competitive factor will be behind the bench as well with the coaches of both squads. Knowing Ed Dempsey and Glen Watson, I can tell you that neither is looking at making the trip and not coming home with something to show for it. For two seasons, 1999-2000 and 2000-2001, Glen Watson was the man behind the bench of the Spruce Kings.
Smithers is no stranger to the game of hockey as evident by the number of players that come out of that area. The interesting thing that I noticed while going through the list of alumni from Smithers is that they are almost all defencemen. Of the eleven players that called Smithers home while playing in the BCHL for the Spruce Kings, only two were forwards. Including Telkwa into the equation and there is a goaltender that can be added to the list.
I'm not sure how many of those players still call Smithers home, but it would sure be nice to be able to catch up to at least a few of them. Perhaps that can be a future blog looking at some of the record holders on the all-time Spruce Kings list to come from Smithers. In the meantime I'm just looking forward to the chance to get out on the road and call a hockey game.
Like I was able to do in Dawson Creek last year and Grande Prairie the year before that, I will be using the exhibition season to work out some kinks in the game broadcast. The full slate of exhibition season games will be heard on 93.1 CFIS-FM and available online from the Spruce Kings website as well as the radio station's website.
The full exhibition season schedule is available from the Spruce Kings website along with the regular season schedule.
The most recent graduate of the Spruce Kings to come from Smithers is of course Zach Davies. The four year vet and last year's team captain is now off to Quinnipiac University on a four year scholarship and will be missed for sure. But that is life in junior hockey, there is always going to be a little turnover giving new players a chance to show what they are capable of bringing to the game.
That is what can be expected for the fans in Smithers that are expected to fill the Civic Centre at the base of Hudson Bay Mountain for the game. The desire to win and be competitive is always there whether it be a playoff game or a preseason test for new players. Those trying to find a spot on the roster will want to show that they have what it takes to play at this level.
The competitive factor will be behind the bench as well with the coaches of both squads. Knowing Ed Dempsey and Glen Watson, I can tell you that neither is looking at making the trip and not coming home with something to show for it. For two seasons, 1999-2000 and 2000-2001, Glen Watson was the man behind the bench of the Spruce Kings.
Smithers is no stranger to the game of hockey as evident by the number of players that come out of that area. The interesting thing that I noticed while going through the list of alumni from Smithers is that they are almost all defencemen. Of the eleven players that called Smithers home while playing in the BCHL for the Spruce Kings, only two were forwards. Including Telkwa into the equation and there is a goaltender that can be added to the list.
I'm not sure how many of those players still call Smithers home, but it would sure be nice to be able to catch up to at least a few of them. Perhaps that can be a future blog looking at some of the record holders on the all-time Spruce Kings list to come from Smithers. In the meantime I'm just looking forward to the chance to get out on the road and call a hockey game.
Like I was able to do in Dawson Creek last year and Grande Prairie the year before that, I will be using the exhibition season to work out some kinks in the game broadcast. The full slate of exhibition season games will be heard on 93.1 CFIS-FM and available online from the Spruce Kings website as well as the radio station's website.
The full exhibition season schedule is available from the Spruce Kings website along with the regular season schedule.
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