Spruce Kings split weekend in West Kelowna and Merritt
PRINCE GEORGE — After starting off February with a 6-0 shutout over the Merritt Centennials on Wednesday (Feb. 2), the Prince George Spruce Kings were edged by the West Kelowna Warriors 3-2 in a shootout on Friday (Feb. 4), before returning to Merritt on Saturday (Feb. 5) for a 4-1 win.
In the shootout, the Spruce Kings fell behind to the Warriors 2-0 nearly halfway through the second period. After responding with a goal in the second, Prince George got a tying goal on the power play – thanks to Luc Laylin – with under four minutes to go. Prince George was unable to score in the shootout on three attempts.
On Saturday, the Spruce Kings peppered the Centennials with 43 shots. Merritt scored their first goal with four seconds remaining in the second to head into the dressing room only down 2-1, but Rowan Miller and Luc Laylin added the insurance markers for Prince George.
The Spruce Kings improved to 21-9-3-5 on the 2021-22 British Columbia Hockey League season, good for 50 points in 38 games and third in the Interior. They play one more game on the road in Salmon Arm on Wednesday (Feb. 9) before returning home to host the Wenatchee Wild for a pair of home games, starting Friday (Feb. 11).