Vernon (13-1-0-0) @ Prince George (5-9-0-1)Last Game Played:
Friday October 16th Vernon defeated Williams Lake 9-2
Friday October 16th Powell River defeated Prince George 5-1
Today is the first meeting of the season between the Prince George Spruce Kings and the defending Royal Bank Cup Champion Vernon Vipers. Today is the final game of a three game Northern road trip for Vernon. This is the Spruce Kings final game of a three game home stand. Todays game wont be on 107.5 Kiss FM
Let’s take a look at the Vernon Vipers:
The Vipers currently sit atop the BCHL with a record of 13-1 and are riding a six game winning streak heading into this afternoons game. During those six games Vernon has scored 42 goals and only gave up 6 goals. Vernon has scored the most goals with 72 and only gave up 20 as the leagues best goals against. The Vipers head into PG 6-0 on the road. The Vipers have four players in the leagues top 20 on scoring, Mike Collins (10-14-24), Braden Pimm (6-14-20), Connor Jones (8-10-18) & Jonathan Milhouse (6-12-18) Blake Voth & Graeme Gordon lead the league as the leagues top two goaltenders. Voth is 3-0 with a GAA of 1.00 while Gordon has a 10-1 record and a GAA of 1.45 For the third straight game the Vipers will be facing a team wich is below 500 and near the bottom of the Interior Division. Vernon cant take the Spruce Kings lightly and will have to jump on PG early and often and try and take advantage of a Spruce Kings team wich hasn’t played very well on home ice with a 2-6 record at the Castle. On paper this looks like another Viper win, I hope the veteran players from last year remember it was PG who gave them trouble through out the season.
Players To Watch:
Mike Collins (10-14-24)
Braden Pimm (6-14-20)
Jonathan Milhouse (6-11-17)
Dylan Walchuk (5-13-18)
Connor Jones (8-10-18)
Kellen Jones (3-13-16)
Cory Kane (7-6-13)
Cole Ikkala (4-6-10)
Rob Short (4-6-10)
Dan Nycholat (1-8-9)
Kevin Kraus (2-6-8)
Kevin Kraus (2-6-8)
Adam Thompson (1-5-6)
Graeme Gordon (10-1 Record-1 Shutout-1.45 GAA)
Let’s take a look at the Prince George Spruce Kings:
Prince George currently sits in 6th place in the Interior Division with a record of 5-9-0-1 one point back of the Quesnel Millionaries. The Spruce Kings come into todays game riding a three game losing streak & are 4-5-0-1 in their last 10 games. PG is 2-6 on home ice and 500 on the road at 3-3-0-1 Prince George has scored 46 goals but has troubles keeping the puck out of the net, giving up 61 goals. PG has two players in the leagues top 20 in scoring, Brooks Robinson (5-17-22) & veteran Sam Muchalla (8-11-19) Prince George will have their hands full trying to slow down and shut down the Vipers high powered offence as of late. The Spruce Kings will also have their work cut out for them trying to get through the leagues best defence and scoring goals on the leagues top two goaltenders. PG is going to need a full 60 minute effort in order to try and knock off the Vipers. Vernon Product Jeremy Wiebe who is in his first year with the Spruce Kings will be facing his hometown Vipers for the first time. Make sure and check out the Spruce Kings Crusader blog, http://sprucekingscrusader.blogspot.com/ for all the latest info and stats on the Spruce Kings.
Players To Watch:
Brooks Robinson (5-17-22)
Sam Muchalla (8-11-19)
Wes McLeod (5-9-14)
Josh Pineiro (6-7-13)
Zac Rasmussen (4-6-10)
RJay Berra (3-5-8)
Justin Fillion (3-5-8)
Joe Morgan (2-5-7)
KEY RETURNEES: F Sammy Muchalla (21-32-53), F Joe Morgan (22-17-39), D Wes McLeod (6-24-30) and D Justin Fillion (5-16-21)
ROOKIE SENSATIONS: F Jeff Earnest joins the Spruce Kings from the highly-touted San Jose Junior Sharks hockey program. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound native of Whittier, Alaska put up some impressive numbers with the Midget U18 AAA Sharks team last season. In 58 games, he collected 17 goals, 31 assists and 76 penalty minutes. Murrieta, Calif. native Kyle Manlow spent last year with the San Diego Gulls of the Tier 3 Junior A Western States League. Manlow was second in Gulls scoring with 36-26-62 in 51 games.
STRENGTHS: Before McLeod elected to stay with the Spruce Kings one more season, the team’s defence appeared average. His decision to put the start of his Division 1 career with the University of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves on hold, turns the Spruce Kings’ defence into one of its strengths. McLeod’s supporting cast on the blueline includes three returnees – Justin Fillion, Josh Pineiro and Geoff Morgan. Veteran F Brooks Robinson came over from the Grande Prairie Storm.
COACH’S QUOTE: Ed Dempsey: “Last year’s team was a very good team. Obviously, we started with a lot of young guys at the beginning of last year, and by the end of the year we had developed into an excellent hockey club. The way of the world for us here in Prince George (is that) lots of times we have high turnover...”
Lets take a look at the trades PG has made since the start of the season:
15-Sep-09 The Prince George Spruce Kings Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Evan Smith (89)(G) to the Humboldt Broncos Hockey Club of the SJHL in exchange for future considerations.
17-Sep-09 The Salmon Arm Silverbacks Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Zac Rasmassen (89)(F) to the Prince George Spruce Kings Hockey Club in exchange for future considerations.
03-Oct-09 The Merritt Centennials Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Tyler Miller (D)(91) to the Prince George Spruce Kings Hockey Club in exchange for future considerations.
04-Oct-09 The Merritt Centennials Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Brad Bourke (D)(89) to the Prince George Spruce Kings Hockey Club in exchange for the playing rights of Andrew Pickering (F)(89).
06-Oct-09 The Prince George Spruce Kings Hockey Club transfers the playing rights of Joe Becker to the Winkler Flyers Hockey Club of the MJHL in exchange for future considerations.
Heres a look at last year's season series between these two teams:
September 13th @ Vernon: Prince George wins 3-1
Kevin Genoe made 23 saves in the PG nets, getting 1st star of the hockey game. Mark Segal makes his BCHL debut for the Vipers taking the loss. Sean Ambrosie, Sam Muchalla, & Michael Nardi score for the Spruce Kings. Chris Crowell gets Vernon’s lone goal of the night.
October 18th @ Vernon: Prince George wins 4-3 Overtime
Kevin Genoe once again stones the Vipers, coming up with a 37 save performance and getting another 1st star. Spruce Kings Sam Muchalla scores two goals, one being the OT winner giving the Spruce Kings the win. Muchalla gets 3rd star. PG’s Zac Davies puts up two assists on the scoresheet helping out with the win. Vernon’s Sahir Gill records two assists in the loss.
October 31st @ Prince George: Vernon wins 4-2
The Vipers make there first visit to Prince George, going home with the 4-2 win, defeating the Spruce Kings for the first time this season. Andrew Hammond leaves the game with the flu, as Graeme Gordon finishes the hockey game, getting the win. Alex Wright makes his first start against Vernon, taking the loss making 26 saves. Connor Jones & Steven Weinstein lead the attack for Vernon with two assists each.
December 12th @ Prince George: Prince George wins 2-1
After a scoreless 1st period Sean Ambrosie opened the scoring putting the Spruce Kings on the board first, but it didnt take long before the Vipers replied, Connor Jones scoring a late powerplay goal tied the game 1-1. With the game tied 1-1 midway through the 3rd, Andrew Hammond coughed the puck up to Dan Correale who fired the puck into the empty net, as Prince George went up 2-1. Hammonds bad pass cost the Vipers as PG defeated Vernon 2-1. Goaltending was the difference tonight, as Hammond allows two goals on just 15 shots, Kevin Genoe was solid between the pipes making 41 saves, earning first star. The Spruce Kings snapped the Vipers nine game winning streak.
January 17th @ Prince George: Vernon wins 3-2
Vernon jumps out to a quick 2-0 lead on goals from, Cory Kane & Sahir Gill. This was the end of the night for Kevin Genoe after he’s pulled giving up 2 goals on just 4 shots. Alex Wright finishes the game the rest of the night for the Spruce Kings. PG’s, Joe Morgan scores late in the 1st cutting the lead to 2-1. Sahir Gill puts the game away very late in the 2nd period as the Vipers go up 3-1. Alex Goodship makes things interesting but the Vipers hang on for the 3-2 victory. Alex Wright takes the loss in net making 29 saves, while Andrew Hammond gets the win making 20 saves.
February 14th @ Vernon: Vernon wins 2-1
Tied 1-1 heading into the 3rd period Connor Jones scored the game winner at 14:55 giving Vernon the 2-1 victory. Jones had both Viper goals, with Kellen Jones and Sahir Gill collect two assists each. Andrew Hammond made 22 saves for the win. Matt Lees had the lone PG goal. Alex Wright made 34 saves taking the loss. Vernon outshot Prince George 36-23. The Spruce Kings went 0-5 on the powerplay, while the Vipers went 0-1
Here's a look at both team's rosters:
Vernon:
Prince George:
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