(Image Credit: Prince George Spruce Kings)
Spruce Kings 9 Eagles 6

Spruce Kings beat Eagles in goal fest to pick up fourth win in a row

Mar 1, 2026 | 9:14 AM

PRINCE GEORGE — Ryan Wachtel scored a hat trick while Ben Vreugdenhil chipped in with four points as the Prince George Spruce Kings beat the Surrey Eagles 9-6 in a Saturday (Feb. 28) night goal fest at Kopar Memorial Arena.

It’s the Spruce Kings fourth win in a row, and they look to solidify their spot atop the BCHL’s Coastal East Division. Prince George (29-14-2-0) leads second place Coquitlam (25-17-2-1) by seven points with nine games left to play.

The Eagles, who sit in the basement of the BCHL, scored the game’s first two goals before the Spruce Kings responded through Ryan Wachtel and Mason Loewen. Surrey took the lead once again but Wachtel’s second – scored on the power play – meant the first period ended with the scores level at 3-3.

Goals from Dominic Szczygiel, Vreugdenhil, and Mathis Laplante made it 6-3 Spruce Kings midway through the second period. After another Surrey goal, Loewen scored his second of the night to make it 7-4 Prince George.

Wachtel scored another power play goal to complete his hat trick just past the six minute mark of the third period. The Eagles got back to within two goals before Nick Bianchi scored an empty netter at 17:14 to make it a 9-6 final.

While Wachtel and Vreugdenhil combined for seven points, Carter Hesselgrave, Ozbej Rep, and River Arnason all chipped in with two assists each for the Spruce Kings.

Ryder Green, who picked up a 21-save shutout against the Eagles on Friday, allowed six goals on 19 shots Saturday. Surrey’s Brady Smith took the loss as he allowed seven goals on 28 shots in 40 minutes of work. Grady Peterson allowed one goal on 16 shots in 19:53 of relief work.

The Spruce Kings now head on the road for a pair of Coastal East battles next weekend. They’re in Coquitlam on Friday (March 6) night and Chilliwack (24-18-2-1) on Saturday.