It was a tough Saturday night for the Prince George Spruce Kings.
After fighting hard against Penticton Friday night, the Spruce Kings were handed their second straight loss Saturday in Vernon.
It was a packed Kal Tire Place as the Vipers were hosting their teddy bear toss game and it didn’t take long for the stuffed animals to fly. Less than five minutes into the game, Anthony Cliche buried his eighth goal of the season past Spruce Kings starting goalie Ryan Sanborn.
Luca Primerano tied it after Kai Greaves let a shot go from the point that created a rebound and the team were ties after the first period.
The Spruce Kings lost their grip on the game in the second period. Vernon scored twice in 30 seconds and Sanborn was pulled in favour of Marcus Ouellet.
Near the end of the second period, Kings’ Skogen Schrott high-sticked a Vernon forward in front of the net, leading to a four-minute Vipers power play. Shea Busch capitalized, scoring his sixth goal of the year and the Vipers led 4-1 after two periods.
A minute to score in the third period. Owen Kim scored his seventh goal of the season in past Ouellet, leading to Ryan Sanborn re-entering the game.
Max Ranström potted his fifth of the season in the third period, a one-timer from the point in past Vipers goalie Colin Reay (’05).
The Vipers went 3-for-6 on the power play, the Spruce Kings were 0-for-4.
Prince George hits the road next weekend for two games in Cranbrook.
