Brett Mennear got in the habit of winning junior A hockey games last season with the West Kelowna Warriors when they ran the table all the way to their first RBC Cup national championship.
Mennear didn't know it at the time, but his future as a Prince George Spruce King was set in stone in January when he was dealt to the Kings along with winger Tanner Campbell in the trade that sent forward Jake LeBrun and defenceman Bryan Basilico to the Warriors. Campbell joined the Kings immediately but Mennear was the player-to-be-named later and got to share in the spoils of the Warriors' title run.
Now comfortably ensconced in Prince George as the 20-year-old captain of the Spruce Kings in his last season of junior hockey, Mennear might just be allergic to losing.
He scored three goals to lead the Spruce Kings to a convincing 8-0 victory over the visiting Coquitlam Express Friday night before a flock of 823 faithful observers at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena.
"I love winning and it feels really good to win at home, we love it here," said Mennear, after taking a curtain call as the game's first star.
"Last year the team here had a tough year and this year it was a tough start for us but we're really coming on strong and I don't think much is going to stop us right now.'
Now owners of a 13-10-1-2 record, the Spruce Kings are playing their best hockey in years and they've been especially good at home, going on a 10-0-1 run over their past 11 games at RMCA. Coquitlam (6-20-0-2) remains last in the Mainland Division.
Mennear is deadly when he gets the puck on his stick in scoring range and showed that precision with his toe-drag move out of the corner around fallen Express goalie Lawson Fenton. That unassisted effort, 10:03 into the second period, made it a 3-0 game and it took Mennear just six minutes of game time to add to the count.
He took a perfect pass from linemate Jamie Huber in the slot and let go a wicked wrister into the top corner.
As good as he is on his forehand side, Mennear delivered another crushing blow to the Express in the third period when he lifted a backhander in the net when Fenton dipped his shoulder 5:56 into the third period. That goal, his team-leading 15th of the season, came a few minutes after pointman Adam Burnett scored to make it 5-0, five seconds into a Kings' power play after Mennear won the draw in the Coquitlam end. The assist left Mennear with 35 points in 26 games and he moved into the top-10 in the B.C. Hockey League scoring race.
Tavin Grant made all 27 saves for his first BCHL shutout. He had to be sharp especially in the first period while the Kings were struggling at times to find their stride. The shots ended up 50-27 for the Kings.
"We had a tough start there but our team played well tonight, we really came on in the second and third period," said Mennear. "Tavin's been playing great for us lately. His last few starts have been outstanding, really keeping us in the game and tonight he deserved that one."
Jarod Hovde also had a four-point night with a goal and three assists, while Parker Colley collected two goals and Kyle Johnson also scored for the Spruce Kings.
The Salmon Arm Silverbacks are in town to play the Kings tonight (7 p.m.).
Game Summary
Express 0 at Spruce Kings 8
First Period
1. Prince George, Hovde 8 (Johnson, Lee) 6:15 (pp)
Penalties - Luhmann PG (delay of game) 0:00, Knight Coq (high-sticking) 5:26, Brien Coq (hooking), Colley PG (unsportsmanlike conduct) 6:40, Giunta Coq (roughing) 10:32, Turanski Coq (blow to the head, misconduct) 11:24.
Second Period
2. Prince George, Johnson 8 (Hovde, Burnett) 8:22
3. Prince George, Mennear 12, 10:03
4. Prince George, Mennear 13 (Huber, Lee) 16:33
Penalties - Luhmann PG (hooking) 10:07, Babych Coq (unsportsmanlike conduct) 12:09. Kozlowski Coq (holding) 17:11.
Third Period
5. Prince George, Burnett 3 (Mennear) 2:06 (pp)
6. Prince George, Mennear 15 Huber, De Melo) 4:42
7. Prince George, Colley 7 (Hovde)
8. Prince George, Colley 8 (Hovde)) 16:32
Goal - Coquitlam, Fenton (L,2-5-0); PG: Grant (W,5-5-0).
Penalties - Knight Coq (slashing) 2:01, Anderson PG (roughing) 5:56.
Shots on goal by
Coquitlam 9 13 10 -27
Prince George 10 18 22 -50
Power plays - Coq: 0-3; PG: 2-6.
Referees - Bronson Tazalaar, Troy Paterson, Linesmen - Brett Burton, Nick Albinati.
Attendance - 823.
