BCHL Preseason

Spruce Kings round out preseason schedule with shutout win over Merritt

Oct 3, 2021 | 6:56 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – It was a complete 60-minute effort from the Prince George Spruce Kings, getting a pair of goals from Simon Labelle, and Ty Gagno Nick Rhéaume adding goals as well.

The winning effort was also backed by a 21-save shutout courtesy of Jordan Fairlie, giving Prince George a 4-0 victory in the fourth and final game of the preseason.

Just 42 seconds into the opening period, a Colton Cameron shot from the right point was redirected by Simon Labelle, past Brayden Melnyk to give the Spruce Kings an early lead. Cameron had the lone helper on Labelle’s first of the preseason.

On a similar type of sequence, it was a Cameron point shot that was initially stopped by Melnyk, but the rebound found the stick of Ty Gagno who deposited the puck into the back of the net to give the Spruce Kings a 2-0 lead. Cameron again had the lone assist at 5:09

In the 2nd period, 20 seconds quicker than they did in the opening period, the Spruce Kings found the back of the net. 22 seconds into the period, it was again Simon Labelle in tight off a shot from Nick Rhéaume that was then tapped in by Labelle to give the Spruce Kings a three-goal lead.

At 12:20 of the frame, a Simon Labelle shot was redirected right in front of the goal by Nick Rhéaume through the legs of Melnyk to give the Spruce Kings a 4-0 lead. Labelle and Ben LeFranc had the two assists on Rhéaume’s second of the preseason.

The 4-0 score would stick for the duration of the final period as the Spruce Kings completed their preseason schedule with a record of 2-1-1.

Prince George will be back on the ice Friday, October 8th down in Merritt as they get their 2021-22 BCHL campaign underway against the Centennials.