The Kings and Spruce Kings square off tonight at the Hap Parker for leg 1 of this year’s Battle Royal. It will be a special night on and off the ice as the Kings are also holding their annual Breast Cancer Awareness Night, with a host of activities and fundraising opportunities to raise money towards research and a cure.
Here are the game notes for tonight’s tilt against Prince George:
- Short Season Series
This year’s edition of the BCHL Battle Royal will last all of 9 days. The Kings make the return visit to Prince George next Sunday. - Power Players
Both the Kings and Spruce Kings have enjoyed success on the powerplay early this BCHL season. The Kings have scored a powerplay goal in 9 of 10 games this year and sit 3rd with a 28.57 efficiency, while the Spruce Kings are 4th at 27.50 having scored 3 fewer goals on 9 fewer attempts. Prince George’s penalty kill has been better than the Kings this year, with the Spruce Kings operating at 80% in 9th, while Powell River sits 15th at 72.34 and gave up 1 goal in each game over the mid-week road trip. - Evenly Matched
These teams often see each other no more than twice in any given season and are evenly matched historically. Since 2003, both clubs have played 2 games (1 home and 1 away) 9 of the 11 seasons. Only twice has there been a season series sweep, both times for the Kings back between 2009 and 2011. Everything else has been a split, typically with the home team earning the two points. The Kings almost had the sweep last year, dropping a 3-2 overtime decision in December in Prince George, before winning 2-1 on home ice to start January. - New Personnel
The Kings made a move on Friday, switching up players on the blue line. The Kings bring in Tony DeVito from the Lincoln Stars in the USHL, who before playing in the USHL spent two years in the Ontario Junior Hockey League as a member of the Buffalo Jr. Sabres scoring 4 goals and adding 22 assists in 70 games. To make room on the roster, the Kings dealt defenceman Cole Arcuri to the Merritt Centennials in exchange for future considerations. Arcuri joined the Kings in January 2014 scoring 2 goals and adding 6 assists in 41 regular season and playoff games. Best of luck to Cole on the remainder of his Junior career with the Centennials. - Going Streaking
Kurt Keats is riding a 6-game point streak after a goal and assist on Wednesday in Nanaimo. The Winnipeg, Manitoba product has 7 goals and 5 assists in that stretch playing with Jarid Lukosevicius mainly on his right, and a combination of Jarryd Leung and Jacob Pritchard on his left. Going about his business quietly is Stephen Hiff who has assembled points in his last 6 as well. Hiff has put a focus on his offensive game this year and it’s paid off with 3 goals and 6 assists during the stretch. Other notables include Jarid Lukosevicius (points in 5 of last 6) and Jacob Pritchard who had a 7-game point streak snapped on Tuesday night, but started a new one on Wednesday with a 1-goal, 2-assist game.
Opening faceoff is at 7:15 from the Hap Parker Arena. If you’re out of town, I’ve got the broadcast live on the Kings Broadcast Network beginning at 6:45 with the pre-game show. You can listen in here.
