The hot streak continues!
The Prince George Spruce Kings didn’t even need a whole minute to make an early statement against the National Junior ‘A’ Championship-host Bandits, taking off to an eventual 2-0 shutout victory Friday night.
This is the first-ever appearance in a regional championship series for the ‘Kings, who take a 1-0 lead over Brooks in the Doyle Cup on the road.
Prince George is now 17-1 in the post-season, riding a current 14-game winning streak and a 29-2 record since Jan. 25.
Distance can’t keep the @SpruceKings from winning on the road 🚌 The 1st-time BCHL champs take a 1-0 Doyle Cup series lead with a 2-0 shutout over @BrooksBandits Friday night in Alberta | #CityOfPG @GoBCHL @HC_NJAC @PGMatters pic.twitter.com/K4MUE86xmN
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) April 27, 2019
Logan Neaton earned his third shutout of the 2018-19 post-season, turning away all 30 shots he faced from the home team and was named the game’s first star.
Even with the nine-day break from winning the franchise’s first Fred Page Cup since joining the B.C. Hockey League (BCHL) in 1996, Captain Ben Poisson found another way to light the lamp in convincing fashion.
The 20-year-old scored just 59 seconds into the contest for his team-leading 14th of the post-season, 13 from the BCHL playoffs, with assists from his brother Nick and Chong Min Lee.
Prince George was able to maintain their 1-0 lead for over 52 minutes, cruising through the first and second frames with yielding a possible scoring chance from Brooks.
Defenceman Max Coyle stepped up with under seven minutes left in the tilt.
He scored a goal unassisted to give the Spruce Kings a 2-0 advantage and the Game One win.
The @SpruceKings kept it going in Game 1 of the Doyle Cup against the Brooks Bandits:https://t.co/KQTBb1qcwM pic.twitter.com/D0qziTW9Zn
— BC Hockey League (@GoBCHL) April 27, 2019
Game Two is scheduled for tonight (April 27), 6 p.m. Pacific time from Centennial Regional Arena in southeastern Alberta.
If the Spruce Kings win, the series will shift to the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena (RMCA) for Game Three on Tuesday (April 30) at 7 p.m.
If the Bandits win on home ice, Game Three will take place Sunday (April 28) before coming to the RMCA for the remainder of the Doyle Cup.
Regardless of what happens, Game Four will be at the RMCA on Wednesday (May 1) at 7 p.m.
