Photo Courtesy: Prince George Spruce Kings

By Ethan Ready

BCHL Preseason

Spruce Kings open up preseason with 6-2 win over Merritt

Sep 25, 2021 | 4:03 PM

MERRITT – Six different goal scorers for the Prince George Spruce Kings was just what the doctor ordered, as the Prince George Spruce Kings skated to a 6-2 victory against the Merritt Centennials to kickoff their four game preseason schedule.

It was the Centennials who got the scoring underway in the opening period as Alex Ochitwa picked the pocket of a Spruce King defender and fired it top corner on Aaron Trotter to give the Centennials a 1-0 lead.

In the final minutes of the opening period, it was a great effort from both John Herrington and Kolton Cousins to find Kilian McGregor-Bennett as he fired a one timer inside the right circle to tie the game up at one.

A few moments later, it was Merritt’s Deegan Mofford was able to pot home a rebound off a Talon Zakall shot to give the Centennials a 2-1 lead. The time of the Mofford marker came at 12:45.

In the early minutes of the second period, a Connor Elliott point shot was redirected by John Herrington in the high slot past Brayden Melnyk to tie the game up at two. Herrington’s first was assisted by both Elliott and Kolton Cousins.

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On a Spruce Kings power-play, the puck ended up on the stick of Kolton Cousins right in front of the goal and bodied it in past Melnyk to give the Spruce Kings the lead. Kilian McGregor-Bennett and John Herrington had the two assists on Cousins’ first of the pre-season.

A few moments later, the puck came to Max Borovinskiy along the Merritt goal line, and the West Vancouver product wrapped it around on the glove side of Melnyk to give the Spruce Kings a two-goal lead. Borovinskiy’s first of the preseason campaign was assisted by both Jimmy Doyle and Josh Wright.

Around the midway point of the third period, 20-year-old Dylan Schives fired home a wrister on a 2 on 1 to give the Spruce Kings a three-goal lead. Max Borovinskiy was credited with the lone helper at 5:49 of the third frame.

At 13:22 of the period, the puck came to Evan Fedele off a Dylan Schives feed inside the right circle and fired home a one timer past Melnyk to give Prince George a 6-2 lead.

The Spruce Kings held on for the win and will now look to get ready for the West Kelowna Warriors on Tuesday, September 28th.