Photo Courtesy: Garrett James

By Ethan Ready

PG wins Pod

Spruce Kings win Chilliwack Pod with 4-2 victory over Chiefs

May 9, 2021 | 7:30 PM

CHILLIWACK, BC – It came down to the final game and in a matchup featuring the Pod’s two top teams, it’s the Prince George Spruce Kings coming away from the 2020-21 season as the champions of the Chilliwack Pod, following a 4-2 win over the Chiefs in the final game of the season.

Through 20 games, the Spruce Kings completed the season with a 14-5-0-1 record to finish in the top spot of the three-team pod with 29 points. Chilliwack finishes second (26 points) with a 13-7 record and the Merritt Centennials finish at the bottom (6 points) with a 3-17 record.

The Spruce Kings got out of the gates early, scoring three goals against Chiefs’ Mathieu Caron before the 12-minute mark of the opening period. Christian Buono got the tear underway, scoring his 14th goal of the season and his 100th career point in the BCHL.

Only a few minutes later, Tanner Main added Prince George’s 2nd of the game with Buono getting an assist on the play. With two assists on the season, the goal marked Main’s first of the season.

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At the 11:26 mark of the period, Kilian McGregor-Bennett potted his first BCHL goal.

Down 3-0, Chilliwack was able to get dig into the deficit before the end of the period. Abram Wiebe got his 3rd of the season with the Chiefs on the powerplay.

In the 2nd period, the Spruce Kings re-established their three-goal lead after 19-year-old John Herrington scored his 6th of the season.

Less than a minute later, however, the Chiefs answered right back off the stick blade of Sasha Teleguine.

Following 40 minutes of play, Prince George carried a 4-2 lead into the final period inside the Chilliwack Coliseum.

Through the 20 minutes of the 3rd period, the 4-2 score stood as Trotter and Caron shut the doors, leading to the Spruce Kings coming away with the win to take the pod.

Aaron Trotter, getting the most starts of the three Spruce Kings’ goalies, clinched his 7th win of the season with a 27-save performance Sunday evening. The 20-year-old finished with a 7-3 record while posting a 1.63 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage.

Christian Buono wraps up the season as the Spruce Kings’ leading scorer with 27 points (14 goals, 13 assists). Mason Waite and Andrew Seaman round out the top three, while Nick Rheaume completed the season as the top rookie in scoring for the squad.

Tanner Main, Hunor Torzsok, Christian Buono, Andrew Seaman, and Mason Waite round out the graduating class from the Spruce Kings this year.