One heartbreak after another.
In a nutshell, that is probably the best way to sum up what has been a challenging season for the Prince George Spruce Kings.
The latest gut-wrenching setback you ask? How about a 3-2 double-overtime loss to the Penticton Vees, pushing them to the brink of elimination of the 2024 BCHL.
An arrant Kazumo Saskai pass led to a Penticton 2-on-1 rush where Conyr Helleyer’s sharp-angle shot found just enough room under the cross bar to beat netminder Ryder Green.
“I thought we played hard, I thought we defended too much at the end of the day, but we gave them (Penticton) a great game. I think there are a couple of bounces I think we could have scored on. They capitalized on our botched play in the third but that is the margin for error. For the guys coming back next year, learning from a game like that can teach you a lot of good lessons,” said Alex Evin, Spruce Kings head coach.
Penticton leads the best-of-seven quarterfinal series 3-0.
More on the plot twist.
At 9:48 of the first overtime period, Spruce Kings starter Ryan Sanborn was forced to leave the game due to cramping issues. He left the contest stopping 33 of 35 Vees shots.
Green who has only been with the Spruce Kings organization for three weeks, entered the lion’s den with the team shorthanded. Showing no fear and ice water in his veins, the 16-year-old local product made 15 saves on 16 shots in relief, many of which extended the game.
“I am really happy for Ryder – that is not a situation you want to do is go in cold during overtime but give credit to him. He was obviously ready making three good saves right away and it’s awesome to see.” added Evin.
PG, who are the heavy underdogs in the series, found themselves up 2-1 at 1:24 of the third period when a harmless chip in by Scott Cousins was muffed at the side of the Vees goal by netminder Will Ingeman trickling off his pad and into the net.
Cousins, who spoke with Vista Radio postgame, said the result dampened what was otherwise a hard-fought effort.
“It stings for sure and we will take a second to let it process, but it’s back to work tomorrow with a quick turnaround so we’ll rest and recover and get back to work.”
However, a misplay at centre ice proved costly for the Spruce Kings as 2-on-2 rush led to a Penticton equalizer. Anselmo Rego carried the puck past an outstretched Kai Greaves, rushed the puck inside the blueline, using Luca Primarano as a screen to take away Sanborn’s vision on the shot.
Penticton led 1-0 after the first period. On a delayed PG penalty, Simon Meier’s bank shot fooled Sanborn as he failed to go post to post in time.
After carrying the play for much of the first and into the second, the Spruce Kings finally scored their first goal of the series, courtesy of Linden Makow.
Makow accepted a pass from Amran Bhabra where his hard blast squirted through the arm of Ingemann sending a sparse crowd of 776 fans at Kopar Memorial Arena into a brief euphoria.
Penticton outshot the Spruce Kings 51-32. The Vees went 0-for-2 on the power-play while PG was 1-for-3.
The Spruce Kings entered Game Three as a bit of M.A.S.H. unit as Charlie Zolin, Jared Langdon, Ben LeFranc, Aidan Carolan, Skogen Schrott and Trent Ballentyne all sat out due to injury while Vital Dinis was serving a suspension.
This led to Cariboo Cougar grad Mason Loewen making his BCHL debut in the postseason. The Fort St. John native tallied 24 goals and 31 assists this season with U18 Cariboo Cougars.
Game Four is set for tonight (Wednesday) at 7pm.