Whenever Prince George Spruce Kings head coach Adam Maglio needed a momentum changing shift, he went to his checking line.
The trio of Lucas Vanroboys, Nolan Welsh and Corey Cunningham helped the home side pull through with a 4-2 victory on Friday in front of 2,067 fans at the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena to take Game one of the Coastal Conference Championship series.
The offensive catalyst was the 17-year-old Cunningham who scored a goal and an assist in what was a physical game for two teams who don’t see a lot of each other in the BCHL Regular Season.
“We just grinded it down, played in the corners all night and got a couple of chances in front and the bounces went our way tonight.”
“It’s just a game of luck and when the puck bounces your way good things happen.”
The third round of the Chevrolet #BCHLPlayoffs started with a bang, as the @SpruceKings edged the Victoria Grizzlies 4-2 to take a 1-0 series lead.
Get caught up on all the action with #BCHLin60! pic.twitter.com/IMEvsEDC5F
— BC Hockey League (@GoBCHL) March 30, 2019
After a late goal by Dylan Anhorn to open the scoring, the Spruce Kings blitzed out of the gate three more goals including two in a span of eleven seconds from Patrick Cozzi and Ben Poisson, taking advantage of a Grizzlies team that was down on their luck to begin the middle frame.
Cunningham lit the lamp six minutes later capping off the blue-collar efforts from Welsh as well as defenceman Max Coyle.
Victoria’s only offensive surge of the game came late in the second period where Alexander Campbell and Cameron Thompson found the back of the cage against Spruce Kings netminder Logan Neaton.
In the third, Prince George muddled up the ice against the Grizzlies giving the top line of Campbell, Alex Newhook and Riley Hughes little room to move as the potent trio recorded 227 points during the regular season.
“We played a good 35 minutes and we can’t give them any momentum because they are a momentum-based team that is trying to score so if we just limit our turnovers and keep it simple it should be a good night tomorrow,” said Liam Watson Brawn to My PG Now.
Watson-Brawn admits they wanted to take the body on Victoria especially after getting pushed to the limit in round two against the Powell River Kings.
“They just finished a seven game series so they are a little tired so it’s good to get on the physicality especially against their good players because they don’t want to play when we’re physical so as long as we keep that up we should have a fun time tomorrow shutting them down.”
Prince George outshot the Grizzlies 40-27 as Kurtis Chapman was the busier goalie stopping 36 Spruce King shots in defeat.
Fifteen-year-old Fin Williams drew into the lineup for Prince George as did Nick Wilson subbing off Spencer DenBeste and Tyler Schleppe who were among the scratches.
Game Two is set for 7pm tonight (Saturday) from the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena with a limited number of tickets available.
The Victoria Grizzlies are stunned as the @SpruceKings open the second period with two goals 11 seconds apart only 21 seconds into the middle frame, then add another one.
It’s suddenly 4-0 ? #BCHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/i7RsbTnkdl
— BC Hockey League (@GoBCHL) March 30, 2019