Thanksgiving weekend provided a bountiful feast for the Prince George Spruce Kings.
Backed by the stellar goaltending of 17-year-old rookie Liam McCloskey, they won two of three road games on their B.C. Hockey League Interior Division tour.
McCloskey made 37 saves as the second star of the game Sunday and Bryan Bascilico had a goal and an assist on the way to 4-3 win over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
The Kings got power-play goals from Bascilico and Sean LeBrun and one at even strength from Nick Guerra to take a 3-0 lead in the first period. Nick Hutchinson got the Silverbacks in board with the only goal of the second period, but Oliver Trachsel restored the three-goal cushion early in the third period. Chase Zieky and Colton Thibault brought the Silverbacks close in the final frame.
Shots were 40-29 in Salmon Arm's favour. The Kings' power play went 2-for-4, while Salmon Arm was 2-for-5.
It was only the third loss this season for the Silverbacks (6-3-2-0), who are tied with West Kelowna for second place in the Interior Division.
Saturday night in Vernon, McCloskey was even busier on the ice. He was the obvious first star, making 46 saves in a 4-3 victory over the Vipers, who outshot the Kings 49-21.
Braiden Epp was the triggerman for the Spruce Kings with a goal and an assist. Calvin Tilsley, Corey Hoffman and Adam Brubacher also scored for Prince George. All but Hoffman's goal came on the power play as the Kings went 3-for-3 with the man advantage.
Colton McCarthy had a two-goal night for Vernon and Odeen Tufto also scored for the Vipers (5-6-0-1).
The two wins allowed the Spruce Kings (3-8-0-1) to escape the Mainland Division basement. They leapfrogged the Surrey Eagles into fifth place. Surrey (3-9-0-0) lost 8-4 Sunday in Duncan to the Cowichan Valley Capitals.
The Spruce Kings started their trip with a 7-3 loss to the Smoke Eaters Friday night in Trail.
The Kings return to the road Thursday night in Merritt, the start of a three-game, three-night trip which also stops Friday in West Kelowna and Saturday in Penticton.
