The Prince George Spruce Kings have every reason to be excited and optimistic heading into the Fred Page Cup BCHL playoffs.
This is the first time since joining the league in 1996 that they finished on top in their division, 11 points ahead of the second-place Langley Rivermen in the Mainland.
In addition, the Spruce Kings are on a roll having won 12 of their last 15 games, five of which came against the Chilliwack Chiefs, their first round opponent.
However, the reality of the playoffs is a completely different beast, as the Prince George Cougars found out one year ago.
In 2016-17, the Cougars won their division for the first time, finally putting a banner up at the CN Centre, yet there was an empty feeling when they lost in six games in round one to the Portland Winterhawks.
The Spruce Kings will get their first banner and will have time to enjoy that accomplishment, but this is not yet the time to celebrate.
The job is far from over.
They need to achieve in the playoffs, winning at least a couple of rounds, to declare the 2017-18 season a complete success.
Don’t sell the Chiefs short.
Chilliwack has lost seven straight to Prince George after a season opening tie, but that could be misleading.
The Chiefs will host RBC Cup, Canada’s National Junior ‘A’ Championship, May 12th to 20th.
The #BCHLPlayoffs start tonight!
At the end of it all is the 2018 RBC Cup in Chilliwack – don’t miss out https://t.co/cogzJLYzdi pic.twitter.com/JiDCeGaLs6— BC Hockey League (@bchllive) March 1, 2018
There’s plenty of incentive for Chilliwack, who don’t want to sit around idle for two months, which will be the situation should they lose to Prince George.
They believe they had a roster that could compete with the best in the country, yet grossly underachieved in the regular season with a dismal 26-26-3-3 record, just fourth in the five team division.
It’s simple to suggest that PG has Chilliwack’s number, but a closer look shows the two teams may be more evenly matched than the lopsided record shows.
In the four February head to head games, Prince George won each by just a goal (plus an empty-netter February 26th) with scores of 3-2, 4-3 in OT, 2-1, and 2-0.
The Chiefs outshot the Spruce Kings in the last three games (26-24, 31-20, 30-20), while PG outshot Chilliwack on February 2nd by a 27-26 margin.
Each team scored 170 goals in 58 games (tied for 12th in the 17-team league), but there was a big difference in goals-against with Prince George allowing 138 compared to Chilliwack’s 193.
Only Vernon (118) and Penticton (130) gave up fewer goals than the Spruce Kings.
Goaltending is the key to any playoff series and this is where the Spruce Kings have a decided on paper advantage.
Evan DeBrouwer, who just turned 21 years old, posted a 26-14-4 record, a 2.24 goals-against-average (GAA), a 0.920 save-percentage (SV%), three shutouts and the second most minutes played.
DeBrouwer, who is committed to the NCAA’s Arizona State University Sun Devils in the fall, was a finalist for the BCHL Top Goaltender Award that was won by Ty Taylor of the Vernon Vipers.
Congratulations tp Evan DeBrouwer on his commitment!https://t.co/j27movqGyr pic.twitter.com/buFRYQFA2Q
— Spruce Kings (@SpruceKings) February 27, 2018
He hasn’t won a playoff series though.
Last year with Nanaimo, the Clippers lost in the first round, although DeBrouwer’s stats were impressive with a 2.22 GAA and a 0.931 SV%.
Chilliwack’s starter is just 17.
Mathiew Caron was only 18-12 with a 2.66 GAA and an 0.895 SV%.
Discipline is also a significant factor this time of year.
The Spruce Kings were the least penalized team in the BCHL with 587 minutes while the Chiefs had the third most with 879.
There are always upsets in the playoffs.
The Spruce Kings have to be careful they are not a victim.
Normally, there is less pressure on the underdog, but the Chiefs are trying to make amends with a highly recruited team that hasn’t peaked.
Despite a 22-5-1-1 home record, the Spruce Kings averaged just 888 fans in 2017-18, their lowest total since 2010-11.
That number should rise considerably with a playoff run.
The Spruce Kings should feel confident but those first eight head to head games don’t carry any weight in March.
It’s a new season and now the Spruce Kings need to show they are ready to accept a whole new set of challenges.
As a favourite, they are in uncharted territory.
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Spruce Kings-Chiefs first round schedule:
GAME 1 = Friday, March 2nd – Chilliwack @ Prince George – 7PM
GAME 2 = Saturday, March 3rd – Chilliwack @ Prince George – 7PM
GAME 3 = Monday, March 5th – Prince George @ Chilliwack – 7PM
GAME 4 = Tuesday, March 6th – Prince George @ Chilliwack – 7PM
**GAME 5 = Thursday, March 8th – Chilliwack @ Prince George – 7PM
**GAME 6 = Saturday, March 10th – Prince George @ Chilliwack – 7PM
**GAME 7 = Sunday, March 11th – Chilliwack @ Prince George – 7PM
**IF NECESSARY
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BCHL:
MAINLAND DIVISION:
Prince George, 58 games = 33-17-4-4 (74 points)
Langley, 58 games = 25-20-10-3 (63 points)
Surrey, 58 games = 26-22-8-2 (62 points)
Chilliwack, 58 games = 26-26-3-3 (58 points)
Coquitlam, 58 games = 15-38-1-4 (35 points)
FROM THE QUOTE RACK:
Russian spies hacked hundreds of computers at the Olympics, which explains why Hillary Clinton didn’t win a single gold medal.
*Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon
Canadian ski crosser David Duncan, along with his trainer and wife were arrested for alleged DUI in a stolen vehicle in South Korea. Know Canada did well with 29 Olympic medals but maybe they tried too hard to prove they are equal of American athletes.
*Comedy writer Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
A report says many Winter Olympic athletes face hard financial times. With some of the competitors finding it difficult to even put food on the table, it’s no wonder they have an event called the “skeleton.”
*Comedy writer Jim Barach of WCHS-TV in Charleston, W.Va., http://jokesbyjim.blogspot.ca/
What was Kirstie Alley doing in PyeongChang? Promoting “Cheers” reruns?
*Comedy writer TC Chong of Vancouver
What an amazing Olympic hockey final, and a great showing by Germany — but, alas, there was no Mer-a-kel On Ice.
*Contributor Joe Cerra
Papa John’s announced they will no longer be a sponsor for the NFL. After hearing this, Peyton Manning said, “Wait – you mean I’ve been eating this crap for nothing?”
*Conan O’Brien of TBS
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
Charles Barkley told Jimmy Kimmel he once played a game while completely intoxicated. His scoring summary from that night — three jumpers, two layups, and one slam drunk.”
*Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com
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Hartley Miller is the sports director and morning news anchor for 94.3 the GOAT.
He also is the 94.3 radio color commentator for P.G. Cougars home games.
His column appears Fridays on myprincegeorgenow.com.
Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to [email protected]
Follow him on Twitter: @Hartley_Miller
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