Kilian McGregor-Bennett’s wraparound goal 2:54 into the second period broke a 1-1 deadlock and staked the Prince George Spruce Kings to a 3-1 victory Friday over the Vernon Vipers.
Nick Rheaume also scored, 9:22 into the second period, cashing in on a shorthanded breakaway to score on goalie Ethan David.
Playing their first B.C. Hockey League game in nearly two weeks to the weather-related highway closures in the wake of last week’s destructive rainstorm, the Spruce Kings avenged their 4-3 loss to the Vipers in in Vernon Nov. 10.
Luke Buss got the Vipers and their crowd of 1,330 at Kal Tire Place into the game when he scored just 29 seconds into the first period. Simon Labelle fired the equalizer for Prince George just shy of the midway mark of the period, his fifth of the season.
Kings goalie Aaron Trotter was at his best in the third period, stopping all 10 Viper shots. The Spruce Kings outshot the Vipers 27-22.
Neither team scored on their power-play chances. The Kings went 0-for-2, while Vernon finished 0-for-3.
The Spruce Kings (10-6-0-0-0) remain fourth in the Interior Conference, while Vernon is seventh in the conference, seven points behind Prince George.
The Spruce Kings’ next game is on Wednesday, when they host the first-overall Penticton Vees at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena. The Vees were 8-0 winners Friday over the visiting Merritt Centennials.
