The loaded Prince George Spruce Kings bus left Thursday morning, just before the highway got slippery as a snow squall blanketed the city.
That could bode well for the Spruce Kings, who have three weekend games on the road to try stop their downward slide into the depths of the B.C. Hockey League standings.
The Spruce Kings tackle the first phase of that mission south of the border tonight in Washington state, a place they've never played, when they take on the expansion Wenatchee Wild. The Kings return to Canada Saturday to face the Chilliwack Chiefs, then visit Surrey for a Sunday afternoon game against the Eagles.
Wenatchee (13-5-2-1) leads the Mainland Division but the expansion Wild is essentially tied with Chilliwack (13-5-1-2), each with 29 points. Chilliwack has won seven straight games. Only the league-leading Penticton Vees (20-1-0-0) have a better record than Wenatchee or Chilliwack.
Having lost all three road games last weekend, the Spruce Kings (5-14-0-2) are just four points ahead of Surrey for last overall in the 17-team BCHL. The Kings have yet to face the Chiefs but have a 1-3 record against Wenatchee, including a 3-2 win over the Wild on Oct. 30 at the Coliseum.
"We need to go out and play a good smart game, similar to the last time we played (Wenatchee) at home," said Spruce Kings head coach Chad van Diemen. "It's a tough challenge for sure but we know what we have to do to give ourselves a chance at winning."
The Kings lost last weekend in Powell River, Alberni Valley and Victoria. A series of brief letups cost them dearly in their 6-2 loss in Powell River. A 4-3 overtime loss followed in Port Alberni and the Spruce Kings suffered a 7-3 defeat in Victoria. Van Diemen said his team played well enough to win the Alberni Valley and Victoria games but missed too many scoring opportunities.
"We have to learn that at key times of games teams are going to fight back and come hard at you, especially when we're the road team, and we have to do a better job of managing the game at those times," said van Diemen. "I don't think our confidence is down, we just have to show up and work hard. Even in our wins I don't think we've played a full 60-minute game this year. We have to eliminate those three-to-four minute spans which can cost you the hockey game. We have to be a lot more consistent."
LOOSE PUCKS: G Sam Tanguay, 20, who played well in the Kings' two most recent games against Wenatchee, will start in net against the Wild tonight. D Ryan Fritz returned last weekend after missing the first two months of the season following knee surgery. D Cooper Prechel, who has missed 12 games with a concussion, returned home to Penticton with the team and will remain there for treatment
