Michael Colantone has the hot stick for the Prince George Spruce Kings.
The 20-year-old centre had a pair of power-play goals Thursday as the Kings (18-13-2-3) moved into third place in the Interior Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League with a 4-1 win over the Westside Warriors (11-18-1-5), a point over the idle Chilliwack Chiefs (19-12-0-2).
Colantone tipped his 21st goal of the season, and second of the game, past Warriors' goalie Dwayne Rodrigue with 10 seconds left in the second frame after defenceman Chase Golightly sent the puck into the slot at The Coliseum to the delight of most of the 688 fans. He added the hat-trick goal - his second three-goal performance since Christmas - to ice the win late in the final period. Colantone has seven of the Kings last 13 goals.
Colantone added an assist in the third period on captain Ben Matthews fourth goal of the season. At the other end of the ice, Kirk Thompson was solid in the Kings' net, stopping 26 shots including a glove save he pulled out of his back of tricks on Marcus Basara from pointblank range in the second period. Thompson preserved the win stopping Max French on a breakaway with less than four minutes to play about a minute before Colantone scored his third.
The four-point game moved Colantone into the BCHL's top 10 scoring leaders with 51 points.
It was the Warriors who came out fired up to start the game.
Only seconds into their first power play of the game, the Kings tied the game at 1-1 when Michael Colantone beat Warriors goalie Dwayne Rodrigue with his 20th goal of the season on the home side's second shot of the first period. The Warriors held a 9-1 advantage on the shot clock at the midway point and led 1-0 on a partial breakaway goal from Reid Simmonds.
The Kings and Warriors have split their four games this season.
KINGS NOTES: Jujhar Khaira earned the first BCHL player of the week in 2012 for his seven point (one goal, six assists) in two Kings' wins last week. Khaira's linemates Paul De Jersey and Michael Colantone also received consideration. The 17 year old was rewarded by being double-shifted in the game, playing with Patrick Chore and Michael Betz in addition to his regular mates. De Jersey had two assists, giving him 65 points. The Kings go for their fourth straight win tonight at The Coliseum in the back half of the doubleheader with the Warriors. Game time is 7 p.m.
