Can the Wenatchee Wild be tamed?
That's up to the Prince George Spruce Kings, who plan to be much less hospitable hosts tonight and Friday than they were the last time the Wild visited Prince George on the season-opening weekend.
For those who need a reminder of what happened Sept. 11 and 12 at the Coliseum, the expansion Wild played its first games in the B.C. Hockey League and spanked the Spruce Kings 5-1 and 8-0 at the Coliseum.
The Wild peppered rookie goalie Liam McCloskey in the first game while outshooting the Kings 50-18 and the story was even more grim for Spruce Kings' fans in the rematch.
To the Wild's credit, the team has emerged as one of the top dogs in the BCHL. Wenatchee leads the Mainland Division with a 10-4-2-1 record and ranks third overall in the league, 14 points ahead of the fifth-place Spruce Kings (4-11-0-1).
Powered by a three-goal attack from Joseph Drabin in their most recent game Sunday at home in Washington state, Wenatchee routed the Surrey Eagles 8-0.
Coached by Bliss Littler, the winningest junior Tier 1 and Tier 2 coach in USA Hockey history, the Wild has been scoring by committee this season with nine players in double figures in points, including Drabin, who leads Wenatchee with eight goals and 18 points in 17 games. Just three Spruce Kings have 10 or more points, including leading scorer Corey Hoffman (6-10-16), Adam Brubacher (5-7-12) and Kyle Johnson (2-8-10).
The Spruce Kings split their most recent games at home last weekend against the Coquitlam Express, winning 3-2 Friday, followed Saturday by a 2-1 loss.
Game time tonight is 7 p.m.
