The Cranbrook Bucks got a rough ride Thursday night at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena.
Playing their first-ever game in Prince George, the expansion Bucks ran into a Prince George Spruce Kings team that hadn’t played a home game since Nov. 12.
It didn’t take the Kings long to impress their home fans. Just 18 seconds into the game, Kings defenceman Colton Cameron let go a point shot that deflected in off a Bucks player. Cameron’s first goal of the season turned out the only goal Prince George needed in a 3-0 victory.
Kings goalie Jordan Fairlie, coming off a 5-0 win Saturday in Salmon Arm, made 20 saves to earn back-to-back shutouts. The 19-year-old from Fort St, John now has four shutouts in 15 games since joining the Spruce Kings last season.
In the third period, Ty Gagno scored on a rebound to make it 2-0, firing the puck in behind goalie Nathan Airey at the 14:37 mark. Less than three minutes later, Austin Fraser found the net with a wrister from the circle, his seventh on the season. Fraser returned to action after serving a three-game suspension for a high hit.
Two of the four newcomers on the Spruce Kings’ roster found their way onto the scoresheet. Right winger Luc Laylin, at St. Thomas University recruit signed last week from Minnesota of the NAHL, assisted on Cameron goal. Laylin drew a helper playing the right side on a line with centre John Herrington and left winger Kilian McGregor-Bennett.
Defenceman Nick Marciano, playing alongside veteran Dylan Schives, drew the second assist on Gagno’s insurance goal.
Kings fans also got their first looks at defenceman James Bohn, 19, obtained in a trade from the Coquitlam Express, and 19-year-old centre Logan Lorenz, a trade acquisition from the Vernon Vipers.
The Bucks will be the Kings’ opponents the next two nights at RMCA. Fans are being asked to bring donations of warm winter clothing to be thrown onto the ice after the Kings score their first goal Friday in the annual Drop the Gloves and Sock it To ‘Em promotion. All items collected will be distributed by the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
The Kings will also pay tribute Friday to players who wore the crown in the 1980s as part of the BCHL’s 60th anniversary celebration. Game time is 7 p.m.
