The seven game war between the Prince George Spruce Kings and the Chilliwack Chiefs is finally over.
Jay Keranen scored the game-winning goal (GWG) with less than eight minutes to play, up lifting the hosts to a thrilling 3-1 victory over the Chiefs on Sunday in front of 1,463 fans at the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena (RMCA).
It was the second GWG for the stay-at-home defenceman from Michigan in this series after not lighting the lamp in the regular season.
“I saw Anhorn up top and I thought he was going to shoot and he looked over and passed to me and I turned around and just got a shot on net and it went in.”
Jay Keranen scores the game winning goal!! pic.twitter.com/x6rXCetsm0
— Spruce Kings (@SpruceKings) March 12, 2018
Prince George scored three unanswered goals in the final frame after trailing the first two periods by a 1-0 count courtesy of PJ Marocco who opened the scoring just 51 seconds into the game.
It wasn’t until Ethan de Jong barrelled past Chiefs defender and local product Bryan Allbee for a shorthanded breakaway goal to even the score at one.
“I was kind of surprised I got the handle on the puck, it kind of got away from me there but I got it back and ended up working out because the goalie bit on it as I took it back and scored and the place went wild, it’s pretty incredible honestly.”
Ethan de Jong ties tonight's game on the breakaway tonight pic.twitter.com/vQ1PA9LF9L
— Spruce Kings (@SpruceKings) March 12, 2018
The marker was exactly what the doctor ordered for the Spruce Kings who were held to just 11 shots after 40 minutes.
“We needed to break one through, in the second period we had a lot of chances we just couldn’t put on the net as we had a nice three-on-one and we just couldn’t finish and then finally we broke through and things started rolling,” added de Jong.
Ethan de Jong seals it for the Spruce Kings! 3-1 to win Game 7! pic.twitter.com/ya3mUDQuVU
— Spruce Kings (@SpruceKings) March 12, 2018
The sophomore forward also put away the empty netter to ice the series for the Spruce Kings who now advance to the second round against the Surrey Eagles, which begins Friday and Saturday at the RMCA, both at 7PM.
Surrey has been a tough out this season for the Mainland Division champions, especially at the South Surrey Arena.
“We struggled in their arena, I don’t even know why and I think we have like one win maybe, so we really have to get some momentum from our home ice advantage early in the series.”
The Spruce Kings will see the return of forward Blake Hayward after he finished serving a four-game suspension against the Chilliwack.