Spruce Kings Fall to Caps

The Prince George Spruce Kings went 0 for 8 on the power play as Gavin Nemis picked up two goals including the game winner for the Cowichan Valley Capitals in a 4-3 win over the Spruce Kings Friday night in the Northern Capital.

After a scoreless first period, it was the Spruce Kings that got on the board first, as Nick Bianchi took a pass from Dracen Campbell and lead the rush into the Capitals zone, before finding Tai Ushio for his 15th of the season to make it 1-0.

The Capitals would respond at 6:21, as Nemis redirected a wrister from Junsu Kwak past Ryder Green to tie the game up. Just under two minutes later, Anthony Hall put home a loose puck in the slot to give Cowichan Valley the lead.

Prince George would have an extended 5 on 3, and an additional power play in the second, but were unable to get the equalizer.

While shorthanded at the end of a double minor, the Capitals Carter Dekay took a pass from Adam Lang on a faceoff win by Jack McAra and walked down from the point to rip a shot off the post and in to make it 3-1.

The Spruce Kings would battle back at 8:05 when Ushio and Dominic Szczygiel connected to then find Marcus Lougheed for his 10th of the season.

Prince George would tie the game at 14:14 as Szczygiel would get his seventh of the season from Mathis Laplante.

Nemis though, would get the last goal as Tristan Gravenor stripped Dracen Campbell of the puck, drove towards the goal and sent it to Nemis for the winner.

The Spruce Kings would outshoot the Capitals 41-26 on the night, but Rhett Stoesser earned third star honours for his 38 save performance.

The two teams wrap up their 2025 portion of the 25-26 season with the back half of the doubleheader Saturday at 6:00 pm. Tickets available at www.showpass.com/pgsk1220cowichan