The much-improved Merritt Centennials are about to get quite familiar with the Prince George Spruce Kings.
The Cents will be playing the Spruce Kings twice in less than two days, starting tonight at 7 p.m. at Nicola Valley Memorial Arena in Merritt. The rematch is on Friday (Remembrance Day) starting at 4 p.m.
The Cents (4-9-2-0-0, eighth in Interior Conference) have already eclipsed their three-win total from last season, in which they finished last overall in the B.C. Hockey League with a 3-37-2-2-0 record.
They’ll be taking on a Prince George team that’s coming off a pair of road losses last weekend. The Kings lost 4-0 Friday to the undefeated Penticton Vees, than dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
Prince George (9-4-1-1-0, third in Interior) is six points back of the second-place West Kelowna Warriors and the Spruce Kings have one game in hand over the Warriors.
After their trip to Merritt, the Spruce Kings will head home and start preparing for the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, who will visit Kopar Memorial Arena next Wednesday night, where Prince George fans will get their first look at forward Scott Cousins. The Kings obtained the BCHL rights to the 18-year-old Prince George native two weeks ago and he’s since played three games, all on road. The former Kelowna Rocket will be looking for his first BCHL point tonight.
The Kings’ homestand will be brief. On Friday, Nov. 18, two days after their game against the Bulldogs, they’ll be in Trail to take on the Smoke Eaters, followed by another date in Penticton on Saturday, Nov. 19.
The Kings placed defenceman Tait Ross on the 30-day injured reserve on Oct. 16 and he remains sidelined.
The games tonight and Friday game can be heard on the Spruce Kings Mixlr website with play-by-play announcer Ethan Ready behind the mic or tune in the webcast on Hockey TV.
