–A third period collapse resulted in the end of the Prince George Spruce Kings season. The Chilliwack Chiefs erased a 3-1 deficit with three unanswered goals in the final 20 minutes for a 4-3 victory over the Spruce Kings and a 4-0 sweep in the BCHL Mainland Division final. The winning goal from Tipper Higgins came on the
power play with just 19.5 seconds left before 892 stunned fans at the P.G. Coliseum. Braiden Epp tallied twice for the Spruce Kings, who outshot the Chiefs 34-32. Chilliwack advances to the double round robin against the Island and Interior Division champions.
–In the BCHL Interior: Vernon beat Penticton 5-2 to cut Penticton’s lead to 2-1 and on the Island Powell River edged Nanaimo 2-1 to tie that best of 7 series 2-2.
–The Prince George Cougars need three points in three games against the Blazers to be guaranteed a playoff spot. The two teams meet tonight and Friday at CN Centre and Saturday in Kamloops. The (29-35-2-3) Cougars are in the driver’s seat, sitting 3rd in the BC Division and 7th in the Western Conference with 63 points, two more
than both Kamloops and the Tri-City Americans. Two of those three teams will qualify for the post-season. The Americans, who lost 7-3 Tuesday in Seattle, also have three games left: home against Portland Friday, home against Spokane Saturday and on the road at Portland Sunday. If the Cougars win tonight in regulation they will be assured of no worse than a tie-breaker spot.
–The best of three BCMML final will be played at Kin 1. The regular season champion Cariboo Cougars host the third place Vancouver Northeast Chiefs Friday at 5 p.m. Saturday at 1:30 p.m. and Sunday, if needed, at 10 a.m.
–The B.C. Female Midget Triple A Hockey championship will also be on the line at Kin 1. The first place Northern Cougars entertain the Fraser Valley Phantom in the best of three final: Saturday at 8:45 a.m. & 5 p.m. & Sunday, if needed at 11:45 a.m.
–Host Prince George lost 1-0 to Fort St. John at the Provincial Peewee Tier 2 minor hockey championship at Kin 1. P.G, which dropped its opener 14-3 to Cranbrook, will play its final round robin game in the 8-team tournament tonight at 6 against Port Moody.
–Five other Prince George minor hockey rep teams are competing at Provincials around the province. (P.G. is 3-1 at the Midget Tier 1, 0-3-1 at the Bantam Tier 1, 1-2 at Bantam Tier 2 and 0-4 at both the Peewee Tier 1 and Peewee Female. Details are below.)
–P.G. Coast Inn is 3-1 and in second place at the Midget Tier 1 in Comox Valley. Prince George blanked North Vancouver 5-0 for its third straight victory in the 7-team championship. P.G. will face Kelowna tonight at 5 and Nanaimo Thursday morning at 11 with the top two teams in the final Thursday night at 8. (Earlier results: P.G. lost its opener 3-0 to Seafair before they crushed Comox Valley 8-0 and Northeast 11-3)
–P.G. is 0-3-1 at the Bantam Tier 1 in Rutland following a 1-1 tie against Kamloops. Prince George concludes round robin play this afternoon at 2 against Kelowna. (Earlier results: P.G. lost 7-0 to the Burnaby Winter Club, 7-2 to the North Shore Winter Club and 3-0 to Victoria).
— P.G. finished 1-2 and out of the playoffs at the Bantam Tier 2 in Cranbrook following a 5-3 victory over Greater Trail. (Earlier results: P.G. lost 10-1 to Vancouver and 9-3 to Campbell River). Meanwhile, Vanderhoof ended up with a 1-2-1 record at the Bantam Tier 2.
–P.G. is 0-4 at the Peewee Tier 1 in South Surrey with one game left against Semiahmoo this afternoon at 2. P.G. lost 5-1 to North Shore and 5-1 to Kelowna on Tuesday. (Earlier, they fell 8-0 to the Burnaby Winter Club and 4-2 to Juan De Fuca.)
–P.G. is 0-4 at the Peewee Female in West Vancouver following a 4-3 loss to South Island. They conclude action today against Tri-Cities. (Earlier results: P.G. lost 9-1 to Kelowna, 7-3 to North Shore and 7-1 to Abbotsford)
–Meryeta O’Dine of Prince George was the 3rd top Canadian and 10th overall at the FIS World Junior Snowboard Championships in Yabuli, China. O’Dine also combined with Haili Moyer of King City, Ontario for a 7th place
finish in the women’s team snowboard.
Photo: Courtesy of the PG Spruce Kings