Down, down, down the Prince George Spruce Kings have gone since they made their lone appearance on the Canadian Junior Hockey League's top 20 list a month ago.
The Spruce Kings (12-9-1-5) have dropped the first four games of a seven-game B.C. Hockey League home stand which concludes this weekend when the Cowichan Valley Capitals (7-15-0-2) visit the Coliseum tonight, 7 p.m. and the Coquitlam Express (15-12-1) drop by for a pair games Saturday, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, 3 p.m.
In November the Spruce Kings posted a 1-5-0-4 record and went from challenging from first place in the Mainland division to battling to hold onto the fourth, and final, playoff spot in the division with the last-place Langley Rivermen (10-12-0-4).
Prince George is led in scoring by defenceman Mitch Eden with 24 points (22 assists) but all the Spruce Kings went pointless last weekend in back-to-back losses to Mainland division leading Chilliwack. The Chiefs (19-8-1-1) posted 6-0 and 2-0 shutout wins in their first trip to Prince George this season.
Tonight's game with the Capitals also features the return of former BCMML Cariboo Cougars forward Hayden-James Berra, who is a rookie with the basement dwellers in the Island division. In 18 games Berra has two goals and four points. Mikael Jung leads the Capitals in scoring with 19 points (11 goals).
The doubleheader with the Express is a key match-up for the Spruce Kings as they trail their Mainland rival by a single point in the standings. John Siemer leads the Express in scoring with 15 goals and 35 points in 28 games while goalie Cole Huggins has a solid .928 save percentage and a 13-7-1 record.
Prince George has a game in hand on the Express. The Spruce Kings earned a 2-1 win over the Express in the only meeting this season between the clubs.
Coquitlam also has a pair of reserve roster players that stand out. The Express picked up defenceman Latrell Charleson this week after the Spruce Kings parted ways with the 17-year-old while Mathew Barzel - top pick in the 2012 WHL bantam draft by the Seattle Thunderbirds - has played in five games with the Express, collecting two assists.
The 15-year-old hasn't signed a WHL contract with the Thunderbirds yet as he continues to keep his NCAA options open.
