What a way to end a record-breaking season by breaking another team record.
The Prince George Spruce Kings accomplished its 23rd victory at the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena (RMCA) in the final game of the 2018-19 season Saturday night (Feb. 24) defeating the Chilliwack Chiefs, 4-1.
That’s the most wins on home ice in a single season for Prince George since the B.C. Hockey League (BCHL) started tallying the record in 2003-04.
With the win, the ‘Kings officially finishes second in the Mainland Division and the entire BCHL by a lone point behind Chilliwack with a record of 39-13-1-5.
Those 39 wins are also the new bar set for future red, white, and blue sweaters.
Not counting shootout winners against, this year’s Spruce Kings have allowed the fewest goals* (115) in a single season since the Powell River Kings allowed the same in 2010/2011. *Powell River was a 60-game season
— Spruce Kings (@SpruceKings) February 24, 2019
After scoring two goals Saturday, forward Dustin Manz accumulated the most points for Prince George this year with 70 (33 goals, 37 assists), the first player to eclipse that number since Brett Minnear two years ago (79 points).
He is also one of four ‘iron men’ on the team this season by starting in all 58 games.
Prince George product Craig Cunningham and American import Patrick Cozzi each got two helpers against Chilliwack, all of them on Manz’s markers.
Defencemen Layton Ahac and Liam Watson-Brawn were the other goal-scorers for the Spruce Kings in the victory.
Netminder Keenan Rancier closed out the season by earning his fourth win since coming over from Victoria in December, making 25 saves on 26 shots from the defending RBC Cup champions.
Logan Neaton may have sat on the bench Saturday, but it won’t matter as he will finish atop the BCHL goaltender list in a number of categories, including:
- Wins = 32
- Shutouts = 5
- Goals-against-average = 1.92
- Games played = 47
- Minutes played = 2748
Prince George will now prepare for the playoffs, which start next Friday (Mar. 1) and Saturday (Feb. 2) at the RMCA against the third-ranked Coquitlam Express.
The Spruce Kings won the eight-game season series 6-2 and all four home meetings.
SPRUCE KINGS WIN!!!! pic.twitter.com/htA4yfFemK
— Spruce Kings (@SpruceKings) February 24, 2019
