Preseason Preview: Prince George Spruce Kings @ Penticton Vees (Sep 29)
PHOTO: Garrett James
Tonight, in Penticton, the Prince George Spruce Kings get set for game number three on the preseason schedule, when they visit the Penticton Vees. The Spruce Kings fell last night by a 4-3 score to the West Kelowna Warriors in overtime.
PRINCE GEORGE SPRUCE KINGS
OVERVIEW
Preseason Record: 1-0-1-0
Head Coach: Alex Evin
Last Game: A 4-3 overtime defeat against West Kelowna
Preseason Leading Scorers: Kolton Cousins (2GP – 1G – 2A- 3 PTS), Kilian McGregor-Bennett, Austin Fraser (2GP – 2G – 1A – 3 PTS)
K-M-B
Returning Spruce King forward Kilian McGregor-Bennett has been no short of fantastic thus far in the preseason. The White Rock product has three points in his first two pre-season games, with one of the goals coming via power-play. If you count the last pod game for Prince George on May 9th against the Chilliwack Chiefs, McGregor-Bennett has goals in his last three games for the Prince George Spruce Kings
FRASER WAY
The Spruce Kings added some veteran pieces throughout the offseason and one of those players is Austin Fraser. The former member of the Coquitlam Express had two goals in the setback last night to West Kelowna and also had a helper in the victory this past Friday night in Merritt. The 6’3 200 pound forward from West Vancouver also has a power-play tally in the four game preseason.
PENTICTON VEES
OVERVIEW
Preseason Record: 2-0
Head Coach: Fred Harbinson
Last Game: A 3-2 overtime victory over the Vernon Vipers on Saturday night.
Preseason Leading Scorers: Fin Williams (2 GP – 1G – 2A – 3 PTS), Bradley Nadeau (2GP – 1G – 1A – 2 PTS), Luc Wilson (2GP – 0G – 2A – 2 PTS)
MR. WILSON
Returning Vees forward and assistant captain Luc Wilson had quite an impressive 2021 pod season. The former Cowichan Valley Capital finished with 29 points in just 20 games and seems to be picking up where he left off, currently sitting with two helpers in two pre-season games. Wilson was acquired by the Vees in the summer of 2020.
IN THE PIPES
The Vees have returning goaltender Kaeden Lane back for his 20-year-old season. The 2021 Penticton Pod top goaltender sported a 15-1 record, along with 1.13 goals against average, and a .951 save percentage. Penticton also was able to land goaltender Colin Purcell out of Shaker Heights, Ohio. The U-Mass commit played his 2020-21 season with the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League (USHL).