Kings were able to give their fans, coaches and themselves an entertaining game and a big win to start the second half of the season by beating Prince George 2-1.
Wrapped around the excitement of the the first game of the New Year and the monster Dream Auction draw was the game between top contenders for the lead in the BCHL.
As expected both teams were a little rusty in the first period and as a consequence passes were off the mark, shot count was low and no real good chances until Sprucie's Luedtke scored on a nice back and forth passing play on a 2 on 1 at 19:34.
Kings regrouped at the break to come out much better and while pouring on the pressure couldn't solve Jenks in the net.
Even when Keats was awarded a penalty shot at 13:57, Jenks was able to thwart it with a nice pad save and keep his team in front.
But just as the Sprucies thought they would hold the lead into the third, King's Hiff, Nogard and Leung hit for their last minute goal to tie the game.
Hiff got control in the corner, shoved it over to Nogard behind the net and the forward hit Leung in the slot for a one timer to tie 1-1 at 19:48.
Just like that the Kings were back in it and they came out in the third looking hungry for the win.
As the game progressed they definitely looked better and at 6:58, after a lot of pressure around the PG net, Nogard worked the puck from one corner to the back of the net where he came out and just kept pushing until the puck was in the net.
The way Jenks was playing, that was the only way the Kings were going to beat him which Nogard did to make it 2-1 and from there it was just a matter of strong skating and discipline.
Although Nogard almost took the shine off his winning goal with a late penalty when PG was already getting one, he redeemed himself once again by winning three faceoffs in the last minute of play to hold of the Spruce Kings.
It wasn't an easy game to win but the scrappy win was just the ticket for the Kings to get back into the swing of things.
"We knew our first period, obviously, wasn't our best because of the Christmas break," said Captain Aidan Wright, "but we responded well early in the second, controlled the play and it was good to get the win."
Asked about how that turnaround happens he said, "there's 20 guys and the coaches and we all see something different so we bring it to each others attention."
"But we needed a kick in the butt after the first and Kent did that and it was good."
"We needed it."
Looking ahead to the this month's schedule with a heavy dose of island teams he said, "Victoria and us have been back and forth all year, and we've got Nanaimo and the other guys on our tails so every game is a four point game really."
Having said that he confirmed, "we're very confident in our team right now and if we play the way we can, working hard and playing smart, I think we'll be alright."
"Not to say it's going to be easy," he said, "it's going to be a dogfight every game but we should be alright."
Off to a nice start for the back half of the season for Wright and the team.
Armitage Mens Wear Three Stars:
1. Luke Nogard
2. Jeremiah Luedtke
3. Stephen Hiff
