Heading into the B.C. Hockey League playoffs, the Prince George Spruce Kings can rest assured they have two quality goaltenders they can rely upon.
They know what they’re getting every night from Evan DeBrouwer, their team MVP this season, so with first place already wrapped up heading into the weekend they gave backup goalie Brad Cooper a chance to show his stuff, and Cooper made the most of his opportunities.
The 18-year-old junior rookie from West Vancouver started consecutive games for the first time in his BCHL career and was flawless in each, posting back-to-back shutouts to end the regular season. Cooper made 30 saves in a 2-0 win Saturday in Chilliwack, then went into Langley and stoned the Rivermen with a 23-save performance in a 1-0 decision
Chong Min Lee’s goal seven minutes into the game was the only scoring play Sunday.
“It’s always nice when your backup is pushing and is capable and if we need him we’re more than confident in him to play and do a good job,” said Spruce Kings head coach Adam Maglio. “These two games are going to build a lot of confidence.”
The win evened Cooper’s record at 7-7-0-0. In 15 games of BCHL action he posted a team-high four shutouts with a 2.31 goals-against average and .918 save percentage – impressive numbers for the product of the Burnaby Winter Club Academy program. Cooper was an affiliated player with the Rivermen last season but signed with the Spruce Kings over the summer.
“He hadn’t played against Langley before this one and that felt good for him, he was pretty excited,” said Maglio.
DeBrouwer finished as the fourth-ranked BCHL goalie with a 2.24 average, .920 save percentage and 26-14-0-4 record with three shutouts.
Collectively, the Spruce Kings set a team record for fewest goals allowed (138), which dates back to the start of their 22-year BCHL history. Only Vernon (118) and Penticton (130) allowed fewer goals this season. Prince George scored just 170 goals for a 2.93 average, tied for 12th in the league, but they ended up tied for second in the Mainland Division with Chilliwack, with 19 fewer goals than the Surrey Eagles.
“You ask any coach, goals against are more important, that shows you care about the 200-foot game,” said Maglio. “In our division, to be first in goals-against and second in goals-for, we’re pretty happy with that.”
The Spruce Kings (33-17-4-4) posted their third-best winning percentage (.638) since they joined the BCHL in 1996 and claimed their first-ever BCHL banner as Mainland Division regular season champions. Only the 2004-05 team (36-18-1-5, .650) and 1998-99 team (37-20-03, .642) had better regular seasons.
Saturday in Chilliwack, Kings captain Kyle Johnson scored 7:55 into the second period – the only goal the Kings would need in a 2-0 victory. Patrick Cozzi cemented it with an empty-net goal with 50 seconds left. Cozzi finished with a goal and an assist.
The Kings sat out their leading scorer, Ethan de Jong, for the games Saturday and Sunday. In 50 games, de Jong had 17 goals and 46 assists for 63 points, tied for ninth in the BCHL scoring race with Ross Armour of Trail. The Kings also rested defencemen Chays Ruddy, Jay Keranen and winger Ben Brar for Sunday’s game.
They began the trip Friday with a 2-1 win over Chilliwack and came out of the weekend with three wins and just one goal allowed. They go into the playoffs Friday having won 10 of their last 12.
“It’s a real positive going into playoffs seeing how these other guys are playing and what they can do with more minutes,” said Maglio. “It was nice to see the whole team played real well defensively, systematically and with good energy.”
The Spruce Kings start the postseason Friday at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena against the Chiefs (26-26-3-3), who ended their season with Saturday’s loss to Prince George and finished fourth.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series will be played in Prince George on Saturday, with Games 3 and 4 in Chilliwack the following Monday and Tuesday. If a Game 5 is needed, that would be played Thursday, March 9 in Prince George. Game 6 would be in Chilliwack on Saturday, March 10, with Game 7, if necessary, Sunday, March 11 in Prince George. All games will start at 7 p.m.
The Spruce Kings won seven of the eight games against Chilliwack this season. The teams tied 5-5 in the first game of the season. The Chiefs will host the RBC Cup national junior A hockey championship, May 12-20 in Chilliwack.
Langley and the Surrey Eagles will play each other in the other Mainland Division semifinal which starts Friday in Langley.
The Island Division first-round match-ups pit the first-place Victoria Grizzlies against the fourth-place Alberni Valley Bulldogs, while the second-place Powell River Kings take on the third-place Nanaimo Clippers.
In the Interior Division, the Penticton Vees (40-13-2-3) finished first overall in the league. The Vees will play the Coquitlam Express, who locked up the second wild-card spot.
The other six Interior teams will play each other in the first round. The second-place Vernon Vipers play the first wild-card team, the seventh-place Salmon Arm Silverbacks, the third-place Wenatchee Wild is matched with the sixth-place Merritt Centennials and the fourth-place Trail Smoke Eaters take on fifth-place West Kelowna Warriors.
• The Spruce Kings announced on Monday that DeBrouwer has committed to the Arizona State men’s hockey program for next season.
“Evan is a great teammate, leader, and has worked extremely hard to improve each week,” said Spruce Kings goalie coach Alex Evin, who has worked extensively with DeBrouwer this season. “It is very rewarding to see our players reach their goals of playing college hockey and getting an opportunity to further their education. We are very proud of Evan and look forward to tracking his future success.”
