Warning: this story contains some name-dropping.
The Prince George Spruce Kings kept their match against the Penticton Vees very close Saturday (Sept. 14), even outshooting the cast of college commits and NHL draft picks 33-18 on home ice.
In the end, overtime was needed to settle the score and it was the visitors leaving the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena (RMCA) with two points, defeating the ‘Kings 4-3.
There were three different lead changes by the end of regulation, going 1-0 after the first, 2-2 after the second, and 3-3 after three.
Jay O’Brien potted the game-winning goal at the 2:12 mark of overtime and the Philadelphia Flyers’ first-round selection in the 2019 NHL Draft kept the Vees’ season undefeated at 4-0-0.
3-on-3 overtime usually brings out the skill in players.
— BC Hockey League (@GoBCHL) September 15, 2019
In the case of @PentictonVees forward Jay O'Brien, he has a lot of it. What an overtime winner for the @NHLFlyers first round pick š² pic.twitter.com/azZ6d85xqS
This game was extra special for old-time hockey fans in the bleachers as five former NHL stars had their sons suit up in B.C.’s northern capital.
Four played for Penticton and one for Prince George:
- Tristan Amonte, son of Tony Amonte
- Jackson Niedermayer, son of Scott Niedermayer
- Ton Richter, son of Mike Richter (Spruce Kings)
- Lukas Sillinger, son of Mike Sillinger
- Danny Weight, son of Doug Weight
āŖļøScott Niedermeyer
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) September 15, 2019
āŖļøDoug Weight
āŖļøMike Richter
āŖļøTony Amonte
What do these former NHL stars have in common? All their sons are on Prince George ice tonight (Sept. 14) as @SpruceKings take on @PentictonVees š | #CityOfPG @GoBCHL @PGMatters pic.twitter.com/1DcX2TL7ps
Weight was the only one to contribute to Saturday’s scoresheet, netting Penticton’s 3-2 go-ahead goal over two minutes into the third period.
The 18-year-old Boston College commit now has three goals and seven points in his first four games in the B.C. Hockey League (BCHL).
Prince George got the first goal of the night, a power-play marker from alternate captain Nick Poisson in getting the monkey off his back (and stomping it on the ice to boot).
The Vees took a double-minor for highsticking in the early moments of the middle frame, but a pair of unfortunate turnovers allowed the blue and black to score two short-handed goals in a matter of 106 seconds.
Preston Brodizak lit his first lamp as a Spruce King to tie it up at 2-2 before the end of the period.
Almost 16 minutes went by after Weight made it 3-2 to start the third stanza, until Chong Min Lee fired a one-timer with six men on offense to force overtime, ultimately dropping the 4-3 decision and earning a single point.
Intense pressure with the net empty and the @SpruceKings tie it!
— BC Hockey League (@GoBCHL) September 15, 2019
Chong Min Lee stuns the Penticton Vees with a late game-tying goal, evening it up 3-3 with under two minutes to go pic.twitter.com/3AFQFKxmor
Poisson and Nick Bochen each had multi-point performances.
Poisson added an assist to Lee’s tying goal, while Bochen notched two helpers on Prince George’s first and last marker.
Goaltender Jack McGovern was between the pipes for the first time this year and turned away 14 of the 18 shots he faced.
The Spruce Kings collected three of a possible four points this weekend and are now 1-1-2 through the first four games.
They’ll hit the road for a Mainland Division road trip featuring three games in three days.
The reigning BCHL champs will face-off in Chilliwack (Sept. 20), Langley (Sept. 21), and Coquitlam (Sept. 22).
