The Rolling Mix Concrete Arena is quickly becoming a tough place to play for opposing BCHL teams.
The Salmon Arm Silverbacks found that out on Saturday after falling 6-3 to the Prince George Spruce Kings.
Chong Lee and Adam Burnett put the Spruce Kings up a pair after 20 minutes sliding pucks past goaltender Trevin Kozlowski.
The second period began in wide-open fashion thanks to a lengthy four on four sequence which saw Tyler Anderson glide in on an offensive rush lifting a wrist-shot past Kozlowski for a 3-0 lead.
Former Kamloops Blazer Carson Bolduc bull-rushed down the ice and put the Silverbacks on the board seven seconds later making it a 3-1 Prince George advantage.
Ex-Spruce Kings affiliate player Josh Latta put Salmon Arm within one after putting home a pass by former WHL’er Mitch Skapski.
Prince George brought up the intensity level once again after a timeout when Jarod Hovde snapped home his 9th of the season for a 4-2 lead after 40 minutes.
Salmon Arm pressed the pace in the third period drawing to a single goal for a second time courtesy of Elijah Barringa.
After some tense moments, Chong Lee and Travis Schneider potted empty netters late in the frame to ice the victory for the Spruce Kings.
The star of the weekend was 20-year old forward and captain Brett Mennear who notched 8 points in 2 games.
Mennear says the formula to his success is simple.
“I think it is hard work and just sticking to the game plan and I am playing with a lot of confidence right now which helps. I have two great line mates in Huber and Chong plus we’re deep up front. I think we are a really good hockey team.”
The two games also marked the debut of 19-year old forward Keegan Ward from the USHL’s Omaha Lancers.
The hulking forward has already provided a physical presence to the team.
“I am not known to score a lot of goals but I like being gritty and grinding out in the corners and I am playing with two really good players that know how to score so I look forward to creating space for them the rest of the year. Ward says.”
Ward has already noticed a difference between the style of hockey down south compared to the BCHL.
“It’s really not as physical up here as it is down in the USHL where it’s more of a grind game. The BCHL has a lot of skill guys who can do a lot with the puck.”
Spruce Kings starting goalie Aris Anagnostopoulos left the game with a knee injury in the first period after making 5 saves on as many shots and was subsequently replaced by Tavin Grant who made 30 saves the rest of the way.
Former Cariboo Cougar Colton Thomas suited up as an affiliate player for the Silverbacks.
Prince George is 4-0 on an 8 game home stand which continues on Thursday against the Chilliwack Chiefs at 7pm from the RMCA.
The Spruce Kings are 14-10-1-1 on the season and are 6 points up on the Langley Rivermen for 3rd place in the Mainland Division and sit nine back of the Chiefs for 2nd.
BCHL Scoreboard
Powell River Kings 3 Cowichan Valley Capitals 2
Langley Rivermen 7 Surrey Eagles 5
Penticton Vees 3 Chilliwack Chiefs 2 (OT)
Vernon Vipers 6 Coquitlam Express 0
Merritt Centennials 3 Trail Smoke Eaters 2
Wenatchee Wild 11 West Kelowna Warriors 2