Photo Courtesy: Garrett James

By Ethan Ready

King-sized win

Spruce Kings blowout Centennials as Seaman and Buono both register hat tricks in 11-2 victory

Apr 7, 2021 | 10:34 PM

CHILLIWACK, BC – Andrew Seaman and Christian Buono exploded for four points, along with some BCHL firsts as Connor Elliott and Linden Makow scored their first BCHL goals all en route to an 11-2 thumping of the Merritt Centennials.

At 4:11 of the opening frame, while shorthanded, Christian Buono picked the pocket of Walker Erickson in the neutral zone and went top corner off a breakaway to give the Spruce Kings a 1-0 lead. Buono’s 2nd of the Pod season was unassisted.

41 seconds later, Andrew Seaman was able to pot home his second of the Pod season. The initial pass from Colton Cameron redirected off a Merritt skate right to Seaman’s tape and made it 2-0. Cameron and Corey Cunningham had the two helpers.

Off the initial shot from Merritt’s Walker Erickson, Jerzy Orchard was able to bang home a rebound off the body of Jake McLean and in. McLean’s first of the season came at 16:54.

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In the second period, at 3:27 on the man advantage, it was again Buono dancing around in the offensive zone and fired a wrist shot past Colton Phillips-Watts to give the Spruce Kings a two-goal lead. Buono’s second of the night was assisted by Carter Cochrane.

Less than a minute later, it was defenceman Connor Elliott who jumped up on the rush on a 2 on 1 and fired one past Phillips-Watts from the left circle to make it 4-1. Elliott’s first BCHL goal came from Max Borovinskiy at 4:14.

34 seconds later, Linden Makow was able to find John Herrington in front of the goal and jammed the puck under the pad of Phillips-Watts to add to the Spruce Kings lead. Herrington’s first of the Pod season came from Makow at 4:48

With 40 seconds to play in the second period, on a delayed penalty, it was Seaman once again who wheeled the puck to the circle and ripped it past Phillips-Watts to give Prince George a 6-1 lead. Seaman’s second of the evening came from Corey Cunningham at 19:20.

The Spruce Kings made the Centennials pay again on a 5 on 3 power-play in the third period. Andrew Seaman whacked home his hat trick goal on the man advantage. Seaman’s third of the night came 23 seconds into the period, with Christian Buono getting the lone helper.

3:25 into the period, Centennials defender Talon Zakall found himself on a breakaway and went top corner on Goaltender Aaron Trotter to make it 7-2. Zakall’s first of the pod season came from Jake McLean.

At 12:18, on another power-play, Buono shot the puck of two different Centennials and it somehow found a way in the back of the net. Buono’s hat trick goal on the power-play was assisted by Carter Cochrane.

Less than a minute later, it was Carter Cochrane who joined the scoring party. Cochrane jammed it past the Centennial goaltender to add to the large Spruce Kings lead. Cochrane’s first of the season came at 13:14 from Andrew Seaman.

At 16:17 of the period, the Spruce Kings were able to hit double digits. Mason Waite was able to rip home his first in the Pod Season. Waite’s PP marker came from Hunor Torzsok and Max Borovinskiy.

22 seconds later, it was Linden Makow who capped off the blowout 11-2 victory with his first BCHL goal in his first BCHL game. Makow’s marker came from Nick Rhéaume and Josh Wright.

The Spruce Kings will be back in action Friday evening against the Chilliwack Chiefs.