In a year where the Prince George Spruce Kings have received timely goals at key times, they got another from an unlikely source.
During Game Two of the Fred Page Cup Finals at the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena on Saturday, 15-year-old Finn Williams took it upon himself to play the hero scoring his first ever BCHL Playoff goal in the second period of 4-1 victory over the Vernon Vipers.
Williams found a crease in the Viper defence and took advantage of an open look from Sean Donaldson bringing the sold-out crowd of 2,112 to its feet.
“It was so cool to me, I am super-excited right now. It’s good to be here and to get it in this building and especially on a win.”
Eight days before his 16th birthday, Finn Williams has his first BCHL goal for the @SpruceKings!
Yes, that's a 2003-born scoring in the Fred Page Cup final. #BCHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/ft6rdlje1D
— BC Hockey League (@GoBCHL) April 14, 2019
The young forward has been up with the Spruce Kings since the Costal Confrence Championship series against the Victoria Grizzlies where he continues to play on the fourth line with Donaldson and Nicholas Wilson.
Prince George is up 2-0 in the best-of-seven series with Games Three and Four slated for Tuesday and Wednesday in Vernon.
Williams knows more work needs to be done on the road since the Vipers will be a desperate team on home ice.
“It’s definently good for our group to get the first two on home ice for sure but we still have a job to do the next two games and we really have a good opportunity to do something special for this team, program and town.”
The North Vancouver, BC product has already committed to the Spruce Kings for next season and is slated to play for the University of Michigan Wolverines NCAA program in the 2021-2022 season after being selected in the third round of last spring’s WHL Bantam Draft by the Swift Current Broncos.
Prince George never trailed in the game even though they were outshot 14-5 in the first period with the only goal coming off a Ben Brar re-direct following a Layton Ahac point shot.
Ben Brar gets the opening goal for the @SpruceKings!
Prince George jumps out to a 1-0 lead after an almost identical goal that Brar scored last night, tipping it in front of Aidan Porter. #BCHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/qDzLUXI1jJ
— BC Hockey League (@GoBCHL) April 14, 2019
Nick Bochen and Jessie Landell traded goal for their respective teams as well in the middle frame, giving the Spruce Kings a 3-1 advantage 40 minutes of play.
Brar capped off the victory with an empty-netter as the Vipers pulled Aidan Porter for the extra-attacker.
Logan Neaton made 27 saves and was named the first star of the game for the second straight evening.