The Spruce Kings (8-7-1-1) host their longtime rival, the Merritt Centennials (9-7-1-0) tonight, 7 p.m. at the Coliseum.
Prince George will be without forward Jack LeBrun, who suffered a concussion Oct. 4 against the Vernon Vipers and is expected to be out a couple more weeks, and defenceman Caleb Thompson, who is ill and will miss his seventh straight game tonight.
Before he was hurt, LeBrun led the Spruce Kings with eight goals and five assists, but team captain Bryant Christian has overtaken the 18-year-old in total points with four goals and 10 assists, albeit having played six more games.
In the first meeting between the Kings and Cents this season, Merritt scored a 4-1 victory, which was the first of six games on the road for Prince George.
Jenks off to Calgary
Goaltender Jesse Jenks leaves for Calgary after the Merritt game where he'll participate in Team Canada West training camp starting Saturday along with other junior A players The camp goes until Wednesday and includes 27 players from the BCHL, 23 from the Alberta league, seven from Saskatchewan, six from Manitoba and three players from the Northern Ontario regional league.
If Jenks makes the Canada West team he'll be out of the Spruce Kings lineup until after the 2013 World Junior A Challenge, held Nov. 4-10 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.
With Jenks and his 3-3-1 record and .924 save percentage gone, the Spruce Kings have recalled affiliate goaltender Bailey De Palma from the BCMML Thompson Blazers. In six games with the last-place Blazers, De Palma (0-5-1) is still searching for his first victory.
De Palma will be on the roster Saturday when the Cowichan Valley Capitals visit the Coliseum.
