Mitch Lipon scored the only goal of the third period to break a 3-3 deadlock and lift the Merritt Centennials to a one-goal B.C. Hockey League victory Thursday over the visiting Prince George Spruce Kings.
The Kings had fought back from a 3-1 deficit 14 minutes in the second period with goals 38 seconds apart from Rylan Bechtel, on a power play, and Braiden Epp. Corey Hoffman connected for the first Prince George goal of the game 37 seconds into the period.
Zachary Zorn opened the scoring for Merritt while shorthanded at the 17:45 mark of the first period and Zak Bowles made it a 2-0 count two seconds before the first intermission. Nick Fidanza also scored in the second period for the Cents, who outshot the Spruce Kings 29-25.
Colten Lancaster notched the win in the Cents' nets. Sam Tanguay took the loss for Prince George.
The loss dropped the Kings record to 3-9-0-1, while the Cents improved to 6-7-0-0.
The Kings' roadtrip continues tonight in West Kelowna, where they play the Warriors, and wraps up Saturday in Penticton against the first-overall Penticton Vees.
