Since the B.C. Hockey League's schedule was released last summer, the Prince George Spruce Kings knew what was in store for them in February.
And that time has finally arrived.
The Kings have been temporarily evicted from their home confines of the Coliseum to make way for the Canada Winter Games for the next two weeks. They'll wrap up the regular season with six of their next eight games on the road.
Including yesterday, they'll practice in Prince George at Kin 3 prior to departing for a three game road trip that beings Thursday in Langley, continues Friday in Cowichan Valley and wraps up Saturday in Victoria. They'll return to Prince George in the wee hours of the morning on Feb. 15.
"It will be a tough week and will be difficult for us," said Kings head coach Dave Dupas. "They just have to make sure they're getting enough rest and eating properly to take care of themselves."
The Kings will practice again Feb. 16 and 17 prior to embarking on their second road trip in seven days where they'll take on Langley Feb. 19, Surrey on Feb. 20 and Chilliwack on Feb. 22.
They wrap up the regular season at the Coliseum with a two-game series against Langley on Feb. 27 and 28.
"We'll only have one practice at the Coliseum for the rest of the regular season," said Dupas. "It'll be like going back to minor hockey days where they're carrying their bags in and out of the rink."
As the Kings embark on the road, Prince George is riding a three-game winning streak. In third place in the Mainland Division at 25-20-0-5 and 55 points, the Kings are only four back of second-place Langley.
"Four of those games are versus Langley, so they're huge," said Dupas. "If we can catch them, that would be big for us. We're trying to get everybody back and playing well.
On Saturday, they derailed the Coquitlam Express 7-5 at the Coliseum.
Trailing 5-4 after the second period, Braiden Epp scored a pair of goals and Jermiah Luedtke added another in the third period to give the Kings the vicotry.
Alex Brooks-Potts earned the win in net, sweeping aside 31 of 36 shots he faced.
Chad Staley, Brogan O'Brien, Cole McCaskill and Adam Clements also found the back of the back of the net, while McCaskill picked up two assists and Michael Buonincontri chipped in with two assists.
Coquitlam is in fourth place at 20-26-1-4.
As the regular season winds down, the Kings are dealing with another round of injuries.
Out of the lineup are 19-year-old forwards Jake LeBrun (wrist), Daniel Nachbaur (hand) and Marco Ballarin (lower body).
But, like the Kings have done all season, they've dealt with it.
"Everybody has stepped up," said Dupas. "Epp, as soon as the first rash of injuries hit us, he started to produce with more ice time. He's coming on. Brogan, he's playing really well. Those guys, along with (Jarryd Leung) they shut down Coquitlam's top line of (Corey) Mackin and (Brett) Supinski. They're scoring some goals, but they're also killing penalties. Our defencemen too."
