The West Kelowna Warriors scored three goals in the first five minutes of the third period to break open a close B.C. Hockey League game and hung on to defeat the Prince George Spruce Kings 4-2 in front of 842 witnesses Saturday night at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena.
Michael Ryan, who opened the scoring late in the second period, R.J Murphy, Willie Reim and Jared Marino supplied the goals for West Kelowna. Chase Dubois, who played three seasons of major midget hockey in Prince George for the Cariboo Cougars, collected two assists for the visitors.
Dustin Manz, on a Kings’ power play 7:44 into the third period, and Kyle Johnson were the Spruce Kings goalscorers.
Cole Demers stopped 29 of 31 shots to earn the victory in goal for the Warriors, improving his record to 8-3-0. Evan DeBrouwer took the loss for in the Kings’ nets. He also made 29 saves.
The Spruce Kings (12-10-2-3, third in Mainland Division) went 1-for-7 on the power play. The Warriors (15-10-1-0, fifth in Interior Division) ended up 1-for-5.
The Spruce Kings will host the Coquitlam Express in their first visit of the season to Prince George this Friday and Saturday.
