Liam McLeod has a perfect October record in the Prince George Spruce Kings' net to earn his first BCHL win.
The Spruce Kings (10-4-1-1) earned their fifth straight victory, beating the Alberni Valley Bulldogs (7-7-0-3) 6-3 on Friday in front of a crowd of 1,351 at the Coliseum. For the Bulldogs it was their fifth straight loss.
After building a 4-1 advantage early in the third period the home side fended off a fierce Bulldogs' attack, aided by a five-on-three power play for 96 seconds, to hold on for the win.
Ryan Lough and Evan Tironese pulled Alberni Valley within a goal but Coltyn Hansen restored the Kings' two-goal advantage just past the midway point in the final period and ensured McLeod his first BCHL win with an empty-net goal.
The 16-year-old Spruce Kings' goaltender has a 1-2 record and hadn't played since a 4-3 loss Sept. 30 in Penticton. Kirk Thompson had started seven straight games. McLeod faced 37 shots.
The Bulldogs came out strong to begin each period but it was the Spruce Kings who notched early goals. Prince George scored a goal in each period before the clock hit the three-minute mark of time played.
Bryant Christian opened the scoring on a one-timer from the just inside the blueline beating Bulldogs goaltender Brad Rebagliati to the top left corner to give the Kings a 1-0 lead. It didn't last long though as the Bulldogs Jared Wilson tied the game at 1-1 only 50 seconds later.
Cam Lawson gave the Spruce Kings their lead back before the end of the period with a power play and Shayne Morrissey notched his second BCHL goal early in the second frame to give the Kings a 3-1 lead.
Tyson Witala extended the Kings lead to 4-1 only 69 seconds into the final period on a disputed goal when he found the puck in the crease, pushing it over the goal line milliseconds before the net was knocked off. Alberni Valley protested, but the referee - who was right behind the net and made a quick call signaling goal - stood firm with his original assessment after conferring with his crew.
Prince George was 1-for-3 on the power play while Alberni Valley was 1-for-7. The Bulldogs only power-play goal came with 28 seconds left in the second penalty of what was a two-man advantage.
Kings notes: Former BCMML Cariboo Cougars forward Nathan Craft returned to Prince George for the first time as a member of the Bulldogs. The 18-year-old BCHL rookie has four goals and seven points in 15 games, in addition to 28 penalty minutes. The Spruce Kings face the West Kelowna Warriors (8-2-0-4) tonight, 7 p.m. at the Coliseum. The Warriors lost 4-1 in Penticton on Friday.
Friday, October 26, 2012
BCHL - Prince George Coliseum
Alberni Valley Bulldogs 3 Prince George Spruce Kings 6
First period:
1. Prince George Bryant Christian 4 (Landrey, Ryan) 2:34
2. Alberni Valley Jared Wilson 2 3:24
3. Prince George Cam Lawson 9 (Ryan) 18:05 pp
Penalties: Hansen PG (hooking) 3:32; Walker AV (roughing after whistle) 16:45.
Second period:
4. Prince George Shayne Morrissey 2 (Board, Pacheco) 2:23
Penalties: Hansen PG (boarding) 2:46; Pacheco PG (slashing)18:58.
Third period:
5. Prince George Tyson Witala 7 (Martell, Hansen) 1:09
6. Alberni Valley Ryan Lough 7 (Hepso, Walker) 6:13
7. Alberni Valley Evan Tironese 8 (Hansen, Gialedakis) 9:05
8. Prince George Coltyn Hansen 6 12:33
9. Prince George Coltyn Hansen 7 (Esau, Witala) 19:09 en
Penalties: Witala PG (elbowing) 4:04; Esau PG (blow to head) 4:40; Hansen AV (elbowing) 13:18; Martell PG (hooking) 14:28; Hansen AV (elbowing) 16:01; Pacheco PG (tripping) 19:34.
Shots:
Alberni Valley 13 13 11 37
Prince George 10 14 12 36
Goaltenders: Alberni Valley Brad Rebagliati (L 5-6-0), Prince George Liam McLeod (W 1-2-0)
Power plays: Alberni Valley 1/7 Prince George 1/3
Attendance: 1,351
