After a five-game, season-opening homestand that secured them just a single point, the Prince George Spruce Kings will try for a more productive performance tonight in Chilliwack against the Merritt Centennials.
The game is part of the B.C. Hockey League Showcase weekend and will start at 7:30 p.m. at Prospera Centre. On the first night of the BCHL calendar, Sept. 9 in Prince George, the Spruce Kings and Centennials battled to a 2-2 tie in double overtime and that point is the only one the Kings have earned so far. They followed that promising start with four consecutive losses, all of them lopsided. The trend began with a 4-0 setback to the Penticton Vees and continued with 5-1, 7-3 and 11-2 drubbings at the hands of the Wenatchee Wild.
In all three games against the Wild, poor first periods killed the Kings. In the opening 20 minutes of those contests, they were outscored a combined 9-1. Tonight against Merritt, a better start will be critical.
Overall, the Spruce Kings have allowed a league-high 29 goals and have scored just eight. In the six-team Mainland Division, they are fifth in the standings, ahead of only the Surrey Eagles (0-4-0-0), who play the Cowichan Valley Capitals this afternoon at the Showcase.
As for the Centennials, they now sit at 2-0-0-1 after picking up a pair of wins last weekend against the Trail Smoke Eaters. The Cents beat the Smokies 5-3 on Friday in Merritt and 3-2 on Saturday in Trail.
Heading into tonight's game, Chong Lee (two goals, one assist), Brett Mennear (two goals, one assist) and Jamie Huber (one goal, two assists) lead the Kings in scoring, each with three points in five games. Tyler Ward, with two goals and two helpers in three outings, is the Cents' points leader.
While in Chilliwack, the Kings will also face the Vees on Friday.
