Game: Trail Smoke Eaters vs Powell River Kings
Arena: Hap Parker Arena
Puck Drop: 7:30pm
Broadcast: Starts at 7:10pm
95.7 SunFM Free Audio
FastHockey PPV Video
Kings This Season vs Smoke Eaters: 0-1-0-0
Last Meeting: Smoke Eaters won 3-2
Kings 2012/2013 Record: 12-13-0-3 (4th Island)
Kings at home: 8-4-0-2
Kings Last 10: 5-4-0-1
Kings vs Interior: 2-5-0-0
Smoke Eaters 2012/2013 Record: 11-16-0-1 (6th Interior)
Smoke Eaters on the road: 3-11-0-1
Smoke Eaters Last 10: 5-5-0-0
The Kings have scored 5 goals in each of their last three games. When was the last time we were able to say that? Two of those games have been wins, and the Kings have taken full points in 3 of their last 4. It’s a far cry from the Kings situation the last time these two teams met. The Kings on the tail end of an Interior road trip, having already lost two players, its bus driver, and two games to Chilliwack and Penticton without scoring, the Kings looked certain to at least get to overtime, but a final minute goal meant the Kings were swept on the road again.
A lot has changed since then for the team. There is confidence and form joining the talent that’s been there all along. JP Villeneuve is playing his best hockey he’s ever played, at least for the Kings. Evan Richardson has returned to form, Jonah Imoo is in a groove, Matt Scarth is buzzing…there are a lot of reasons to be excited. Even watching practice this week, I was laughing on the benches at a few of the goals being scored in some of the drills. I think it was Scarth who had a beauty from a Richardson feed.
The Kings have made news this week, you can read more about the Landon Robin trade below. I know this is a player the Kings took a long look at in the summer, as Kent Lewis mentioned he’d been following Robin closely in the lead up to this season. He began the year in Vernon, but hopefully Robin can thrive here in Powell River. Robin will dress tonight for the Kings, he’s made the quick transition down from Vernon. He’ll wear #16. Also in the lineup, Jarid Lukosevicius. He’s been suiting up with the Vancouver NW Giants in the BC Major Midget League. He’s 2nd in league scoring with 33 points (14+19) in 18 games. He’ll wear 21.
The roster should look much the same, with the obvious addition of Robin, so the Kings will play 12 forwards and 6 defencemen for the first time in a long long time. Teagan Waugh and Jordan Paddock are still out.
In talking with Smokies broadcaster, Chris Wahl, this is a HUGE game for Trail, and indeed a big weekend. Trail need points. They were up there in the Interior standings when the Kings last saw them, but that was in large part due to the fact they had played a few more games than anyone else in the league. Now that everyone is more or less even, the Smokies have come back down to earth.
The Smokies have lost their last three, but have continued their hot and cold season. Wins against Prince George and Penticton, two top teams in this league, were followed by a loss to Penticton, then being swept by Salmon Arm. Before that string, it was win one, lose one.
Trail has the 3rd fewest road wins in the BCHL too, ahead of only Cowichan and Langley. That being said, they do have one of the better home records. And while they sit last in the Interior division, a win tonight propels them back into 4th. A good weekend, and other results going their way, and they’re in 2nd.
On the show tonight, we’ll talk with Stephen Hiff on his hot form, also Noah Henry on his commitment to Union College mid-week, plus a couple more. In the 2nd intermission, the BCHL This Week.
Derek Bachynski and a player of his choosing will join us after 60 or so minutes as well.
