The B.C. Hockey League's 2014-15 pre-season was not a memorable one for the Prince George Spruce Kings.
The Kings didn't earn a win in four exhibition contests, including settling for a 4-4 overtime draw against the Vernon Vipers Saturday on home ice at the Coliseum. The team suffered two regulation losses, an overtime draw and an overtime loss to post a record of 0-2-1-1.
Saturday's game was the second of a two-game home-and-home series against the Vipers. Prince George held a 4-3 lead late in the third period on a pair of goals from Taylor Allan and singles from Jeremiah Luedtke and Justin Rai, but Vernon rebounded in the third period to tie the game five minutes remaining in the game.
Two five-minute overtime periods solved nothing and the squads each earned a point.
The Kings were outshot 50-36 and surrendered three goals killing off penalties.
"I think they're reading too many of their press clippings [that they're big and they can skate and score]," said Spruce Kings head coach Dave Dupas. "But they have to realize it's not going to be easy and they're learning that the hard way."
Friday in Vernon, the Vipers skated out to a 3-0 lead late in the second period, until Rai tallied twice and Brent Lashuk added a single to tie the game in the third period and send the game into overtime. The Vipers tallied the winner in the first overtime period.
In their four pre-season games, the Kings scored 14 goals, but surrendered 25 of their own.
They'll have to reverse the goals for and goals against as they move forward towards the start the 2014-15 regular season this weekend at the BCHL showcase in Chilliwack.
"We have to get our goals-against down and our shot totals up," said Dupas. We can't take penalties."
The Kings are also hurting on the blue line as their top defencemen Karan Toor didn't play in the pre-season due to a groin issue and newcomers Jake McCarthy and Valik Chichkin are dealing with shoulder separations.
"We're pretty depleted on the back-end," said Dupas. "If we don't get guys back soon it's going to be difficult. Karan is getting closer to coming back."
One bright spot for the Kings is six-foot-two 205-pound left-winger Michael Buonincontri who arrived in August in a three-team trade with the Nanaimo Clippers and Smiths Falls Bears of the Central Canada Hockey League.
He was brought in to help the Spruce Kings be more physical and create some room on the smaller ice surface at the Coliseum
The 20-year-old, who's committed to play for St. Cloud University in Minnesota for 2015-16, played on a line with Lashuk and Allan and earned two assists in Saturday's tie.
He's also seen time on a line with Rai and Staley.
"I love it here in B.C.," said Buonincontri, who grew up in Montral. "I've worked really well with Rai and Staley and connected with pretty much everyone I've played with. I don't really mind who I play with, it's the coaches' decision. I can't wait to get the season started."
Dupas also likes what he sees so far.
"He's a dangerous guy, a big body who plays hard," he said.
The Spruce Kings leave Friday for Chilliwack for the BCHL Showcase where they'll open their season against the Nanaimo Clippers Saturday and follow that up with a game against Alberni Valley Bulldogs Sunday morning.
The Kings' home opener is slated for Friday, Oct. 3 at the Coliseum where they'll battle the Chilliwack Chiefs.
