Steven Jandric found another way to make the Prince George Spruce Kings regret his decision to take his junior hockey talents out of his Prince George hometown and take up residence in the Okanagan.
The 19-year-old Vernon Vipers forward got his team off the hook with a late-game surge in a 5-4 double-overtime win over the Kings Sunday in Vernon.
Jandric, an Alaska-Fairbanks college recruit for next season, had a hand in three Viper goals within a four-minute span late in the third period, helping the Vipers overcome a 4-1 deficit.
Jandric assisted on Jimmy Lambert’s goal 13:36 into the third, helped set up Cameron Trott’s counter at 4:56, then scored his 22nd goal of the season at the 17:35 mark to tie the game and force overtime. Trott and Jandric’s goals were scored on Vernon power plays.
Ryan Brushett ended it, 3:29 into the second five-minute overtime period, spoiling what had been a solid outing turned in by Spruce Kings goalie Tavin Grant. The 18-year-old Grant made 42 saves in the game, including four stops in overtime.
Ben Brar, on a Kings’ power play in the first period, Brett Mennear, Tanner Campbell and Keegan Ward scored for Prince George. Tyler Anderson picked up three assists.
The Vipers outshot the Kings 47-32. Ty Taylor made 28 saves in the Viper nets.
Saturday night in Salmon Arm the Kings lost 3-1 to the Silverbacks. Justin Wilson scored two power-play goals and Carson Bolduc added an empty-netter.
Grant made 36 saves in a losing cause. The teams were scoreless 15 minutes into the second period when Wilson cashed in a Silverbacks’ power-play chance with Kings defenceman Adam Burnett off for cross-checking.
The Kings evened the count 17:59 into the second, an even-strength goal from their captain, Mennear. But with 7:56 gone in the third period Wilson hooked up with Josh Latta for the game-winner. The Silverbacks outshot the Kings 38-20.
The Spruce Kings will be back on the road Thursday in Surrey, where they kick off another three-game, three-night trip with stops Friday in Langley and Saturday in Chilliwack.
Prince George (20-21-4-2) is fourth in the Mainland Division, 11 points behind the third-place Langley Rivermen. Each team has 11 games left in the season. All but one of those Spruce Kings games, Feb. 9 against West Kelowna, will be played on the road.
