To secure two points, the Prince George Spruce Kings will have to be at their best.
In the lone game in the B.C. Hockey League tonight, the Spruce Kings will host the Chilliwack Chiefs (7 p.m. start, Coliseum). With their 19-6-1-3 record, the Chiefs are in first place in the Mainland Division. The Kings, meanwhile, are fifth in the six-team division with a record of 8-22-0-2.
The Kings and Chiefs have clashed twice already this season, both times in Chilliwack. In those contests, the Chiefs won by scores of 4-1 (Nov. 14) and 4-0 (Nov. 25).
Offensively, Chilliwack is being led by forwards Vimal Sukumaran (19 goals, 35 points in 24 games) and Jordan Kawaguchi (18 goals, 35 points in 28 games). The Chiefs also have two of the league's top goaltenders - Matteo Esposito and Aidan Pelino, who rank fourth and fifth respectively in goals-against average. Esposito (8-2-0-0) sports a 2.07 GAA, while Pelino (11-7-1-0) has an average of 2.31.
The Spruce Kings, who have scored the fewest number of goals in the BCHL (75 in 32 games), have defenceman Adam Brubacher as their top point-producer. Brubacher - who has played in every game so far this season - has 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points.
The Kings and Chiefs will also meet Friday night at the Coliseum.
