Bradley Cooper’s shutout wizardry continued Saturday at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena.
In his first game of this season, the Prince George Spruce Kings goalie stopped all 19 shots the Coquitlam Express fired his way to pave the way to a 3-0 victory.
For Cooper, a 19-year-old native of West Vancouver, it was his fifth career B.C. Hockey League shutout and third consecutive game in which he has not allowed a goal, dating back to his final two starts last season in February. He ended the 2017-18 season blanking the opposition in four of his last seven games.
Ben Brar provided the offensive punch with two goals, giving him five goals in four games to start the season as the Spruce Kings improved their league-leading record to 4-0-0-0.
Dustin Manz also scored for Prince George, in front of a crowd of 743. Kings defenceman Dylan Anhorn and winger Patrick Cozzi each provided two assists. Cozzi has two goals and four assists for a team-leading six points, seventh-best in the BCHL.
Manz opened the scoring with an even-strength goal 71 seconds into the game. Brar made it a 2-0 count 7:11 into the second period, scoring while shorthanded, and added another late in the third period while the Kings were on their eighth power play of the game.
Kings’ penalty-killers had an exceptional night, preventing any damage on seven Coquitlam power-play chances. Kolby Matthews was busy in goal for the Express as they were outshot 47-19.
The Spruce Kings hit the road for two games this week in Chiliwack at the BCHL Showcase, a four-day gathering of all 17 BCHL teams and hordes of NCAA scouts. Prince George plays the West Kelowna Warriors Thursday at 1:30 p.m., then has a date with the Penticton Vees Friday at 4 p.m.
