The magical playoff run for the Prince George Spruce Kings ended in disappointment after dropping a 3-0 decision in Game Five of the Fred Page Cup Final to the Wenatchee Wild.
The Spruce Kings, who were down 3-1 in the best-of-seven series heading into the contest, could only muster up eight shots on goal (including just one in the third period) during the game as the Wild’s aggressive forecheck smothered the visitors from start to finish.
Special teams were the difference as Wenatchee went two-for-seven (2/7) on the power-play, while Prince George was zero-for-three (0/3).
Zak Galambos scored both markers on the man-advantage, while AJ Vanderbeck slid home the empty-netter.
Evan DeBrouwer made 34 saves in defeat in his final BCHL game before heading off to Arizona State next fall.
It was also the final Junior ‘A’ game for a number of Spruce Kings:
- Chays Ruddy (Graduated)
- Jarod Hovde (Graduated)
- Tyson Slater (Graduated)
- Kyle Johnson (NCAA)
#15 Kyle Johnson
-Team Captain
-7 goals in this years playoffs
-Game winner in Game 5 vs Powell River to send us to BCHL Fred Page Cup Finals
-3 year BCHL veteran, 179 total games as a Spruce Kings player
-54 total goals, 76 total assistsCommitted to Yale University 2018/2019 pic.twitter.com/vVishdqXiE
— Spruce Kings (@SpruceKings) April 20, 2018
The Spruce Kings top two playoff scorers, Patrick Cozzi and Ethan de Jong, were held pointless, but de Jong finished third in BCHL playoff scoring with 27 points (13G, 14A) in 24 games.
Wenatchee, 11-0 on home ice in the playoffs, is the first American-based team to win the BCHL title since the 1979 Bellingham Blazers.
The Wild will advance to the Doyle Cup, starting April 27th, taking on the winner of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, either the Okotoks Oilers or the Spruce Grove Saints.
The final #BCHLPlayoffs recap of the season: @WenatcheeWild1 are #FredPageCup champs for the first time in franchise history as they take Game 5 3-0.https://t.co/OKS19vdRQx pic.twitter.com/ReyH7DLGOm
— BC Hockey League (@bchllive) April 20, 2018