So far so good for the Prince George Spruce Kings.
They kicked off a three-game, three-day roadtrip Friday night in Coquitlam with an 8-3 win over the Express.
Brett Mennear scored two goals, adding to his team-leading total with his 16th and 17th of the season to boost the Spruce Kings to their fourth win in five meetings this season with the Express.
The win moved Prince George (16-12-2-2) back into third place in the Mainland Division, one point ahead of the Langley Rivermen, who were idle on Friday. Coquitam (6-26-1-2 remained last in the division.
Mennear's second goal, 1:37 into the third period, came just after Hayden Knight had spoiled Tavin Grant's shutout. Sam Kozlowski and Luca Leone also scored in the third period for Coquitlam. Drew Lennon and rookie callup Chong Min Lee, with his first career BCHL goal, capped the scoring for the Kings.
Grant made 21 saves for the eighth win this season, as the Kings outshot the Express 40-24.
Coquitlam goalie Reid Cooper was peppered with 17 shots in the first period and the Kings too a 2-0 lead into the dressing room. Hunter Luhmann opened the scoring with an unassisted effort on a Prince George power play 4:19 in. Mennear followed up at even strength with his team-leading 16th goal of the season, 15:06 into the game.
The Kings added two more goals in the second period to take a commanding 4-0 lead. Ben Brar beat Cooper for his fifth of the season and Mennear set up Ethan de Jong for a shorthanded goal in the final minute of the period.
The Kings play tonight at Cowichan Valley, then travel to Victoria for a 2 p.m. battle Sunday against the Grizzlies, their last game before the Christmas break. They'll be back home to host Langley, Dec. 29 and 30 at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena.
The Spruce Kings will likely have centre Kyle Johnson back in their lineup tonight in Duncan. On Friday, Johnson helped Canada West lock up fifth place in the 2016 World Junior A Hockey Challenge in Bonnyville, Alta., with a 5-3 win over Switzerland. The 18-year-old set up Jeff Stewart to tie the game 1-1, 5:33 into the first period. Chilliwack Chiefs centre Jordan Kawaguchi led Canada West offensively with a goal and three assists.
Lee's 20-year-old brother Chong Hyun Lee was held off the scoreboard Friday playing for Korea at the European Ice Hockey Challenge in Gdansk, Poland. Korea lost 4-2 to Kazakhstan and dropped to 0-1-1-0 at the four-team tournament. Korea will play Ukraine (0-2-0-0) today to wrap up round-round play.
