Last weekend there was hype, hoopla and buildup for the Prince George Cougars home opener and local fans responded by coming out to CN Centre in droves. 5,659 fans watched a 7-2 Cougars loss to Kelowna.
This weekend, the other Prince George junior hockey team, the Spruce Kings get a chance for their home opener when they entertain the 4-0 Chilliwack Chiefs tonight in the first of a doubleheader. The Chiefs have the only perfect record in the BCHL.
With all the publicity, attention and scrutiny paid to the Cougars since their ownership change, the Spruce Kings have been regulated to the background, almost forgotten in some circles.
The Spruce Kings don’t have the advantage of a second honeymoon. Their facility at the Coliseum is sub-standard and financially each year is a struggle to make a profit. There are no deep pockets on this community owned team.
Thanks in part to a highly successful house lottery and strong presence in the city, the Kings have been able to stay relevant.
The Spruce Kings are arguably under more pressure this season to win than the Cougars. While the Cats will see a significant increase in attendance, the Kings aren’t sure if their fan base will climb. The numbers suggest it has plateaued the last few seasons.
According to the BCHL website, the Spruce Kings average home attendance over the last three years was 1,122 in 2013-14, 1,175 in 2012-13 and 947 in 2011-12. To build on those numbers, it’s imperative the Spruce Kings win in both the regular season and “playoffs”. It’s been a long drought; in fact the team hasn’t won a playoff series in 10 seasons (since 04-05).
Expectations are high for a Spruce Kings team that compiled a 32-20-4-2 record in the 2013-14 season and is off to a good start in 2014-15 with a 4-1 record, despite not playing any of those five games in Prince George. GM Mike Hawes and Coach Dave Dupas appear to be guiding a team that has plenty of firepower from their forwards, a reliable group of defencemen and dependable goaltenders, with most of these players experienced at the Junior A level.
Already sniper Justin Rai is averaging two points per game (7G & 3A) while four other forwards (Cole Todd, Jeremiah Luedtke, Jake LeBruin and Chad Staley) are averaging at least a point per game. In other words, scoring should not be an obstacle.
One of the team’s top defencemen, Karan Toor, hasn’t played due to injury, and yet the other blue liners have held their own in his absence.
In net, Jesse Jenks and Alex Brooks-Potts have been rotating early and Jenks is 4th in BCHL save percentage (.930) while Brooks-Potts is also in the top ten (.909).
The Spruce Kings don’t have the luxury to be able to give each of their fans a “We Are the Fifth Line” T-shirt, nor will there be a spectacular laser light show prior to puck drop. The scoreboard will not be providing electronic 50-50 updates and an organ player will not suddenly appear.
Yes, there is not a lot of pomp and pageantry as the Spruce Kings get set to play in front of their fans for the first time this season. But popcorn and pop will be available, the line-ups won’t be long and there will be a coziness atmosphere that brings its own set of uniqueness. Sure, it’s far from being the ”big show”, which leaves the Spruce Kings to just go about their business, while trying to ice a competitive product and hope everything else falls into place.
The Spruce Kings would love to have the glitz and glamour but not all teams are afforded that luxury.
From the Quote Rack:
Olympic hockey gold medallists Natalie Spooner and Meaghan Mikkelson finished second on the Amazing Race Canada. Now they know how it feels to be a U.S. hockey Olympian.
Orange News reports a U.S. woman has spent over $20,000 to give herself a third breast. Looks like the Toronto Maple Leafs aren’t the only ones overspending on useless boobs.
Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com
The Milwaukee Brewers are retiring #1 for Bud Selig. And across the rest of baseball, fans are joining in by holding up one finger.
Not to say the New England Patriots are getting old but rumor has it their video spy team has been using VHS tape.
Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
For those of you that missed Tom Brady’s performance against Kansas City, you can see a recreation of it when Apollo Creed goes after Ivan Drago in ‘Rocky IV’.
A lady wandered into the San Francisco Giants dugout during the second inning of the NL Wild Card Game in Pittsburgh. Yes, it was a very tough first night for Julia Pierson as the new PNC Park Security Director.
Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
A chicken farm in California was broken into and a thousand chickens were killed by hooligans wielding golf clubs. Investigators confirmed that Elin Nordegren was not a suspect.
Olympian Michael Phelps was arrested and charged with DUI after police noticed him driving erratically and crossing over the double line on the road. Phelps was incoherent and mumbled something about the water always being warmer in the next lane.
Comedy writer TC Chong of Vancouver (http://alwaysfunny.com/)
And in case you missed it:
Critics say drawings of the Golden State Warriors’ new arena looks just like a toilet. “Count your blessings,” muttered 25 Oakland A’s in unison. “Ours smells like one.”
Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sidelinechatter/
Hartley Miller is the sports director and morning news anchor for radio station TheGoat94.3 His column appears Fridays on hqprincegeorge.com. Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to [email protected]
Follow him on twitter: @Hartley_Miller