The Kings came close to ruling the B.C. Hockey League roost, but the Chiefs have spoken.
Despite getting outshot 35-13, the Chilliwack Chiefs hung on to beat the visiting Prince George Spruce Kings 2-1 Sunday in Chilliwack to claim the Ron Boileau Memorial Trophy as regular-season champions.
Daniel Chenard made 34 saves to allow the Chiefs to clinch first-overall in the 17-team league. Chilliwack (42-13-1-0) hold a seven-point edge over the Spruce Kings (35-16-1-5) and with just three games left the Kings are too far back to catch the Chiefs.
Matt Holmes scored the first Chilliwack goal in the first period, on a setup from Prince George minor hockey product Colton Kitchen, and Rhett Rylands made it a 2-0 count 14:46 into the second period.
Prince George got to within a goal when Dustin Manz scored his 30th of the season on a wraparound that went in off Chenard. The Kings got goalie Logan Neaton to the bench for an extra skater with about two minutes left but were unable to muster any dangerous scoring chances on Chenard.
While the Chiefs now have home ice advantage throughout the BCHL playoffs, as well as the league regular season and Mainland Division banners to hang, the Spruce Kings still have much to play for in their remaining games. With 78 points, the Kings are three ahead of the Interior Division-leading Penticton Vees for second place overall.
The Kings play the Eagles Monday afternoon in Surrey, then wrap up the season with games against Chilliwack Friday and Saturday at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena.
The Nanaimo Clippers did the Spruce Kings a favour Saturday night in Chilliwack when beat the Chiefs 2-1. Goalie Landon Pavlisin made 41 saves in the Nanaimo nets.
