The Fred Page Cup will finally be treated to some northern hospitality.
In what has to be considered as one of the most impressive runs in recent BCHL history, the Prince George Spruce Kings took home their first league crown after a 3-1 victory over the Vernon Vipers on Wednesday to complete a third consecutive series sweep.
Nolan Welsh and Ben Poisson gave Prince George an early 2-0 advantage after two periods giving the visitors an early stranglehold on the fourth game of the series.
The moment that @SpruceKings fans having been waiting a LONG time for.
The Fred Page Cup is yours, #CityofPG! Enjoy it! ? pic.twitter.com/xIqvQdmezW
— BC Hockey League (@GoBCHL) April 18, 2019
Vernon cut the deficit in half courtesy of Teddy Wooding who netted his sixth of the playoffs on the power-play beating Spruce Kings netminder Logan Neaton.
However, that’s as close as the hosts would get as Patrick Cozzi sealed the championship for Prince George with an empty-netter at 19:21 of the third period.
CHAMPS! @SpruceKings pic.twitter.com/ctTs5wZqDu
— BC Hockey League (@GoBCHL) April 18, 2019
The Vipers outshot the Spruce Kings 19-18 in the contest.
Prince George now gets an automatic berth in the RBC Cup National Junior A Championship, after the host Brooks Bandits took the Alberta Junior Hockey League crown after sweeping the Spruce Grove Saints.
Both the Spruce Kings and Bandits will play in the Doyle Cup starting April 26th in Brooks.
Nothing but net for Ben Poisson on this one-timer! ?
The @SpruceKings have extended their lead to 2-0 in game four! #BCHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/riGet2K8qT
— BC Hockey League (@GoBCHL) April 18, 2019