Even with a handful of highlight-reel saves from goaltender Aaron Trotter, the Prince George Spruce Kings couldn’t find the equalizer.
Felix Trudeau scored the game-winner at the 8:16 mark of the second period to send the West Kelowna Warriors (6-2-0-0) home with a 3-2 road victory on Wednesday in front of 595 fans at the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena.
“I don’t think we played a full sixty out there. I think we played maybe half the game hard and the other half was pretty sloppy so we need to get back to work here and although we have a tough schedule coming up we need to bear down and get back to our structure and team play,” said Kolton Cousins, Spruce Kings captain.
PG (7-3-0-0) struck first in this one as John Herrington hammered another rocket from the point, handcuffing Warriors netminder Johnny Derrick for a 1-0 lead.
After a close call inside the Warrior crease, Chase Defoe turned and rifled a shot past, Trotter evening the game at one.
Unfortunately, Defoe’s night ended a mere twelve seconds later after checking Spruce Kings defenceman Brody Gagno from behind and was handed a checking from behind minor along with a game misconduct.
Gagno on the other hand left the contest and did not return, forcing PG to play with five defencemen for the remainder of the game.
The back and forth opening period didn’t end there as a Colton Cameron’s wrist shot from the point found its way onto the blade of Rowan Miller whose re-direct caught Derrick off-guard.
Miller then came within an eyelash of making it a two-goal early in the second period as he was sprung on a short-handed breakaway and beat Derrick but rung it off the crossbar.
On the same man advantage, Tyler Cristall’s hard wrist shot zipped past Trotter tying the score at 2-2.
In a chippy game, the Warriors ended up 1-for-7 on the power-play while the Spruce Kings converted once on three opportunities.
“We have to be physical against them (West Kelowna). I think we took periods off where we weren’t. They are a highly skilled team and when you give them time and space they can make something happen and tonight they finally did,” added Cousins.
“The Interior division is a battle every night, tonight was a war and they won that war, we have to get back to our game and dig in.”
PG outshot West Kelowna 30-26 overall and now sit one point back of Salmon Arm (7-0-1-0) for top spot in the ultra-tough Interior Conference.
The Spruce Kings are back in action Friday and Saturday against the Trail Smoke Eaters (5-3-1-0).
Puck drop is 7pm both nights. Friday’s game will be the first of five retro nights to be held throughout the season.
Former King and local product Corey Cunningham will be making his return to the RMCA with the Smokies after spending four seasons with his hometown Junior A club.
The Merrimack commit has seven points in nine games (two goals, five assists).
Cunningham was part of the 2018-19 Spruce Kings team that claimed the franchise’s first-ever Fred Page Cup and Doyle Cup.
That year, PG came within one win of claiming the National Junior A Championship in Brooks, Alberta falling in the final game against the host Bandits.