By Ethan Ready

Grant wins Spruce Kings debut

Kobe Grant backstops Spruce Kings shutout win in 19-save performance

Apr 17, 2021 | 9:52 AM

CHILLIWACK, BC – Kobe Grant stood tall in his Spruce Kings debut, making 19 saves en route to a 5-0 Spruce Kings victory on Friday night against the Merritt Centennials.

The opening frame went without a puck finding twine for either team. Merritt had the noticeable edge in the shot department, putting 11 shots on Grant compared to the four shots Josh Dias faced.

Just over a minute into the second frame, Simon Labelle spotted Rowan Miller at the left circle and fired it by Josh Dias to give the Spruce Kings a 1-0 lead. Labelle and Nick Rhéaume had the helpers on Miller’s second in the pod.

On a Merritt power-play, Andrew Seaman was able to use his speed to his advantage on a Merritt line change and had a picture-perfect finish on the backhand on a breakaway to make it 2-0. Seaman’s pod leading 6th of the year was unassisted at 16:09.

Prince George flipped the script from the 1st period, outshooting the Centennials 13-5.

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22 seconds into the period, Christian Buono was able to pot home the rebound off an Amran Bhabra point shot, to give the Spruce Kings a three-goal lead. Buono’s fifth in the pod season was assisted by Bhabra and Mason Waite.

At 14:17 of the period, much similar to the Buono marker, John Herrington was able to rifle home a rebound in front of the goal past Dias to make it 4-0 Spruce Kings. Herrington’s 2nd of the pod season was assisted by Christian Buono and Max Borovinskiy.

With 9 seconds remaining in the final frame, a Mason Waite point shot sealed the deal as the puck found its way past Dias to make it 5-0. The PP marker from Waite was assisted by Buono.

Grant turned away all 19 shots he faced for his first BCHL shutout with the Spruce Kings and earning his first win of the season in his first start.

The Spruce Kings will be back on the ice down in Chilliwack against the Chiefs on Sunday in hopes of bouncing back from the 2-0 loss they endured on Thursday.