The Prince George Spruce Kings’ mastery over the Merritt Centennials continues.
Backed by a 19 save shutout from Kobe Grant in his first BCHL start, the Kings blanked the Cents 5-0 Friday at Chilliwack Coliseum. It was their fourth win in four games this season in the Chilliwack pod and in those game they have outscored Merritt a combined 22-4.
Grant, a 19-year-old from Vernon, joined the Spruce Kings in late March, just before the pandemic-shortened 20-game season began. His only previous BCHL experience came Nov. 30, 2018, while he was with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, when he came in for 5:38 of game action in a relief role against the Wenatchee Wild.
The Cents got off to solid beginning in Friday’s game and Grant was under fire when his team took three minor penalties in the opening period. The Kings were outshot 13-5 in the first but Grant stood his ground.
Rowan Miller stoked the Prince George offence, collecting his second goal of the season about a minute into the second period and Andrew Seaman followed suit later in the period, scoring on a shorthanded breakaway for a 2-0 lead. Seaman’s goal was his team-leading sixth in eight games this season.
Former Cent Christian Buono added to the count in the third period. He also had two assists and now has a team-leading 11 points.
Rookie forward John Herrington and defenceman Mason Waite, on a Kings’ power play, also scored. Waite, a 21-year-old St. Lawrence University recruit, missed three games with an injury but still ranks third in Kings’ scoring with seven points, including two goals.
Prince George (5-3-0-0-0) finished 1-for-7 on the power play, while the Cents (2-6-0-0-0) finished 0-for-6 with the man advantage.
The Spruce Kings face the Chilliwack Chiefs (5-2-0-0-0) Sunday in Chilliwack. Game time is 5 p.m.
The Kings and Cents meet again on Monday.
