PHOTO: Vicki Brown
Tonight, at Western Financial Place in Cranbrook, the Prince George Spruce Kings do battle with the Cranbrook Bucks for the first part of a double header in the East Kootenays. The Spruce Kings are coming off a 5-3 victory down in Wenatchee against the Wild last Friday night. Kilian McGregor-Bennett, Kolton Cousins, Nick Rhéaume, Simon Labelle, and Luc Laylin all scored for the Spruce Kings in the victory.
PRINCE GEORGE SPRUCE KINGS
OVERVIEW
Head Coach: Alex Evin
2021-22 Season Record: 14-9-1-1
2021-22 Road Record: 7-5-0-1
Last Game: A 5-3 victory last Friday night against the Wenatchee Wild
Goals For/Goals Against: 86 GF/61 GA (+25)
Power-Play: 28.6% (4th)
Penalty-Kill: 80.2% (6th)
Leading Scorers: John Herrington (25GP – 14G – 17A – 31 PTS) Nick Rhéaume (24GP – 14G – 13A – 27 PTS) Simon Labelle (25GP – 7G – 18A – 25PTS)
THE PRIDE OF ST. MICHAEL
Luc Laylin has been a Spruce King for over a month, and he has been flourishing in the blue, red, and white thus far. The University of St. Thomas commit has suited up in eight games for the Spruce Kings, and currently sits with seven points in those contests which includes two goals and five assists. Laylins latest goal came last Friday night against the Wenatchee Wild on New Year’s Eve.
SPRUCE KINGS NOTES:
-The Spruce Kings are 2-0-1-0 against Cranbrook this season
-10 different Spruce Kings have recorded multiple points against Cranbrook this season
-Kolton Cousins has six points in his last six games
-The Spruce Kings are 83.6% on the Penalty Kill on the Road
-Amran Bhabra is nine games shy of 100 BCHL Games Played
CRANBROOK BUCKS
OVERVIEW
Head Coach: Ryan Donald
2021-22 Season Record: 15-10-2-0
2021-22 Home Record: 7-4-1-0
Last Game: A 3-2 overtime defeat against the Merritt Centennials on Sunday Afternoon in Merritt
Goals For/Goals Against: 85 GF/87 GA (-2)
Power-Play: 16.8% (14th)
Penalty-Kill: 80.0% (7th)
Leading Scorers: Tyson Dyck (27GP – 17G – 20A – 37PTS) Noah Quinn (26GP – 12G – 13A – 25PTS) Kellan Hjartarson (27GP – 10G – 10A – 20PTS)
TRENDING UPWARD
Despite an overtime defeat on Sunday, the Bucks have been red hot as of late. Cranbrook has won four of their last five and are 6-3-1 in their last 10. The Bucks sit in 5th in the conference and are right behind the Spruce Kings. Offensively, the Bucks have been led by the two headed monster in Tyson Dyck and Noah Quinn who have combined for 62 points on the 2021-22 campaign.
BUCKS NOTES
-Tyson Dyck leads all Bucks with five points against the Spruce Kings this season
-The Bucks are 7-4-1 on home ice
-Nathan Airey has won two of his last three starts
