Spruce Kings get doubled up on in 6-3 loss to Warriors
WEST KELOWNA – The Prince George Spruce Kings see themselves on a four-game losing streak following a 6-3 loss to the West Kelowna Warriors at Royal LePage Place Wednesday night.
West Kelowna improves to 15-6-3 while Prince George sees their record go to 13-10-1-1, placing them fifth in the Interior Division.
Angelo Zol earned the win after turning away 19 of the 22 shots he faced for the night. Meanwhile, the Spruce Kings had both goalies get time. Jordan Fairlie started the night but was pulled out of the game after allowing four goals on 17 shots. Aidan Feddema came in for relief, stopping nine of 11 shots through the remaining 26 minutes of play.
Luke Devlin and Ben MacDonald both pieced together three-point nights. The pair each scored a goal and two assists against the Spruce Kings.
The Spruce Kings took a 1-0 lead in the opening period after Austin Fraser stepped into the left-wing circle and ripped a wrist shot in past Angelo Zol. Colton Cameron assisted the play at 10:59.
In the second period, with the Spruce Kings leading 1-0, the Warriors responded in a big way.
The Warriors went off and scored four goals in the middle period.
Isaiah Norlin started the scoring for West Kelowna just 29 seconds into the period. The goal was the defenceman’s third of the season. Luke Devlin and Felix Caron assisted on the play.
That was then followed by a goal by Devlin, who worked the puck up the right-side boards before crashing towards the net and putting a forehand shot in past Jordan Fairlie at 5:11. It goes down as the fourth goal of the season for the Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick. Bobby May and Matthew Fusco earned the helpers on the play.
On the powerplay, the Warriors created some cushion in the second period following a penalty to Jake Schneider. Brennan Nelson scored at 6:54 with the man advantage to put the Warriors ahead by two. Ben MacDonald and Norlin assisted the play.
The Warriors wrapped up their second-period scoring of the stick off Matthew Fusco. The goal came at 13:14 with Alexi Van Houtte-Cacho and MacDonald earning assists.
Before the period was out, the Spruce Kings got one back. Evan Fedele broke out in passed the Warriors’ defence before scoring an unassisted breakaway goal on Zol. It marked Fedele’s third goal of the season and put the score at 4-2 in favour of the Warriors into the second intermission.
Down by two, the Spruce Kings earned their fourth trip onto the powerplay. Having failed to find the back of the net, the Spruce Kings were able to do so in the third period when Luca Primerano sneaked a shot in past Zol at 8:18. Schneider and Kai Greaves earned assists.
Primerano’s goal brought PG to within one, however, the Warriors pulled away following a boarding penalty to John Herrington.
With PG’s leading scorer in the box, Felix Caron scored West Kelowna’s second powerplay goal of the game to re-establish a two-goal lead at 16:02. Devlin and Dylan Brooks assisted on the goal.
Ben MacDonald got the Warriors’ sixth goal of the game, doubling up on the Spruce Kings inside the final two minutes of regulation as West Kelowna secured their 15th win of the season.
The Spruce Kings return home for their final home game of 2022 Friday night against the Cowichan Valley Capitals. The game will get underway at 7:00 p.m. at Kopar Memorial Arena.
The game serves as the Spruce Kings’ annual DROP THE GLOVES AND SOCK IT TO EM game.
Fans are encouraged to bring warm hats, gloves, scarves, and socks and throw them onto the ice following the Spruce Kings’ first goal of the game. All donations will go to support St. Vincent de Paul.
Tickets are available at the Spruce Kings office Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or online 24 hours a day, seven days a week at www.sprucekings.bc.ca