Spruce Kings Crusader: Spruce Kings Roll out of Coquitlam with a W

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Spruce Kings Roll out of Coquitlam with a W

4 Final Score 3

Brubacher, Campbell (2), Hoffman

Goal Scorers

Stout, Hayward, Green

Total Shots

1^st Period Shots

2^nd Period Shots

3^rd Period Shots

3 for 7

Power Play

0 for 5

Adam Brubacher

3^rd Star

2^nd Star

Owen Stout

Tanner Campbell

1^st Star

10-28-1-2

Current Record

18-18-1-4

Heading in against Coquitlam, the Spruce Kings were looking were looking to even the season series at 3-3. Of the five games already played, three had been one goal games, with Coquitlam winning just last weekend on a late goal by Taylor Green to win the game 4-3.

In his second time suiting up for the team, Tanner Campbell is certainly liking things as a Prince George Spruce King. In 28 games for West Kelowna the forward had four goals, and he has already equalled that total in two games with Prince George. The Kelowna native has two goals in each game, with two on the power play, and two at even strength. Last night against Surrey his second goal was the tying goal with 27 seconds in the game, and against Coquitlam his second goal of the game proved to be his game winner.

To start things off though, it was one of the veterans on the Spruce Kings lineup. With Cameron Bertsch in the box for an early penalty, Adam Brubacher stepped into a shot, and blasted it past Lawson Fenton for the first of the night. Then it was Campbell again in the slot taking a shot that bounced off a defenders foot, and right back to him where he beat Fenton for the 2-0 lead.

Turning Point: Making his first start in net for Prince George, Joseph McLeod only had to stop five shots in the first period, but his biggest two came in the dying seconds as his side was down to three men with Ryan Fritz and Brubacher in the box. Twice, the ex-Castlegar Rebel made amazing sliding saves where he was able to stop backdoor opportunities with each toe.

To start the second period, the Spruce Kings killed off over a minute of 5-on-3, with the Express never even getting a shot away. That was stunning as Coquitlam had the best power play unit at home heading into the game.

Prince George would make them pay after, as Corey Hoffman on the power play flew through the slot, and was able to tip in a shot from Matt Stief for the team’s second goal of the game on the man advantage. PG would close the period at 3-0, and the team was 6-0 on the season when entering the 3^rd period with a lead.

After making a number of highlight reel stops, McLeod would finally be beat as Owen Stout took a backdoor pass and was able to slide the puck into an empty net. With 4:42 left in the period though, Campbell would score again in the slot to give Prince George a 4-1 lead, and it looked like things were over. The Express wouldn’t lay over though, and within a minute had scored twice to cut the lead to one. They would push from there on, but the Spruce Kings wouldn’t break, and held on for the 4-3 win.

Game Notes: It was Joseph McLeod’s first BCHL win --- Tanner Campbell now has four goals in two games as a Spruce King --- Win the tie last night, this marks the second time this season where the team has gotten points in two consecutive games --- With his PP goal, Adam Brubacher was named 3^rd star, while his billet roommate Corey Hoffman was the 1^st star with a goal and two assists --- The win marked Prince George’s first win of the season in Coquitlam ---

NOTE: Players listed in Italics are the starting lineup.