Spruce Kings Edge Vipers:

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Spruce Kings edge Vipers

by Don Klepp | Added 2011-10-29

In Prince George Friday night, the Spruce Kings and the Vernon Vipers once again pitted their top lines against one another in a 3-2 Spruce King victory.

The high scoring Spruce King trio of Paul De Jersey, Michael Colantone, and Jujhar Khaira opened the scoring at 9:20 of the first period. Colantone was the trigger man with both wingers drawing assists.

Michael Zalewski’s breakaway goal at 3:36 of the second period tied the contest. He was set free by Ryan Renz's stretch pass.

As both teams opened up play in the second, goalies Marcus Beesley and Kirby Halcrow were busy. The home team edged the Vipers in shots, 14-13, partly because of a string of Viper penalties.

The Spruce Kings forged ahead while enjoying a two-man advantage. Jujhar Khaira’s wrister went bar and down, as the PG snipers gained an advantage over the Nowick/Zalewski/Knisley unit.

That advantage was nullified when John Knisley scored at 12:04 when he followed Darren Nowick’s breakaway attempt to the Prince George goal. Marcus Beesley stopped Nowick, but the Viper centre retrieved the puck and fed Knisley in front of the net. Knisley’s quick rising shot went over Beesley’s glove.

Between the two goals, Kirby Halcrow kept his team in the game with a fine save on a Khaira rebound put-back at 9:40.

The third period was a hard checking, physical affair during which chances were at a premium. However, the Vipers nearly scored short handed when defenceman Brett Corkey went hard to the net to make a play on Darren Nowick’s pass.

The Vipers continued to be assessed penalties and the Spruce Kings capitalized in their sixth power play of the night when Jujhar Khaira deflected Ben Woodley’s point shot at 8:46. Paul De Jersey recorded the secondary assist, his third of the game.

That goal, scored by the BCHL’s 16th ranked power play unit, proved to be the winner. The Spruce Kings capitalized twice in eight opportunities, while the Vipers were blanked in their four power plays.

Post-game, Viper Coach Jason Williamson was frustrated by inconsistent officiating: “It was a well-played hockey game with good goaltending at both ends, but we didn’t agree with a lot of the calls on penalties and icings. Still, the coaches of both teams have to be happy with the effort of their players tonight.”