The Prince George Spruce Kings wrapped up the preseason with a 2-2 record Saturday after dropping their second straight game to the Grande Prairie Storm.
Grande Prairie returned home to Alberta after a 5-2 win over their B.C. Hockey League rivals in front of 329 fans at the Prince George Coliseum.
Kirk Thompson looked shaky in the Spruce Kings' net as the Storm broke open a tied game with three goals in the second period - two that just slid across the goal line. The Kings did dress a young lineup for the second night in a row so the coaching staff can make the final roster decisions.
The Kings 20-year-old goaltender was beaten early as the Storm took a 1-0 lead after Prince George defenceman Spencer Schoech put the puck right on the stick of the Storm's Jordan McTaggart at his own blueline, allowing the Grande Prairie player to skate in allow, beating Thompson with a wrist shot from the high slot.
Tanner Labbe had three assists for Grande Prairie while Braden Crone potted two goals.
Both teams had five power plays with the Storm capitalizing once.
Thompson played the full game making 19 saves, while former BCMML Cariboo Cougar David Readman stopped 13-of-14 shots before being replaced by Curtis Skip.
Tanner Fjellstrom left the game late in the first period after getting tangled up with a Storm player along the boards in front of the Kings' bench. The 18 year old limped off the ice favouring his left leg. A team doctor was called to the Spruce Kings' dressing room during the first intermission.
Late in the second period, Kings defenceman David London went hard into the end boards with his left side trying to get back to stop a Storm rush.
The Spruce Kings begin the regular season Friday (noon start) against the Merritt Centennials in the first of two games in Chilliwack at the inaugural BCHL Showcase. Prince George will face the Langley Rivermen in their second game Sunday, 6 p.m.
Grande Prairie Storm 5 Prince George Spruce Kings 2
First period:
1. Grande Prairie Jordan McTaggart 4:43
2. Prince George Kody Disher (Eden, Pacheco) 9:04
Penalties: Charleston PG (hooking) 2:39; Larocque GP (holding) 14:38; Case GP (hooking) 16:32.
Second period:
3. Grande Prairie Ryan Matthews (Labbe) 3:24 pp
4. Grande Prairie Marc Drapeau (Thudium, Correale) 5:20
5. Grande Prairie Braden Crone (Labbe) 7:19
Penalties: Toor PG (holding) 2:53; Nordstrom GP (cross checking), Disher PG (roughing) 8:09; Correale GP (holding) 8:27; Disher PG (hooking) 13:33; Hodge GP (hooking) 18:02.
Third period:
6. Prince George Liam Board (Luedtke, Eden) 15:07 pp
7. Grande Prairie Braden Crone 2 (Labbe, Matthews)18:48
Penalties: Board PG (roughing) 2:44; Nordstrom GP (fighting, game misconduct), Disher PG (fighting, game misconduct) 8:18; Toor PG (holding) 9:06; Matthews GP (slashing) 13:04.
Shots:
Grande Prairie 8 11 9 28
Prince George 11 6 7 24
Goaltenders: Grande Prairie David Readman (14-13), Curtis Skip (2nd -10:35, 14-14), Prince George Kirk Thompson (L 1-1)
Power plays: Grande Prairie 1/5 Prince George 0/5
Attendance: 329
