Corey Cunningham didn’t get on the scoresheet in his Prince George homecoming but to him that didn’t matter one iota.
Cunningham’s only concern as he headed off the ice to the visitor’s dressing room Saturday at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena was what showed on the scoreboard – a 3-2 win for the Trail Smoke Eaters over the Prince George Spruce Kings.
The Smoke Eaters scored three goals on just 13 shots in the game and were outshot 33-13 but still managed to hand the Spruce Kings (8-4-0-0-0) third fourth loss of the season. Trail (6-4-1-0-0) crept to within three points of Prince George in the Interior Conference standings.
That 13-hour bus ride back to Trail was going to be a lot happier after the Smoke Eaters gained a split in their BCHL roadtrip to Prince George, the only visit of the season for Cunningham back to his familiar turf, his hockey home for 20 years before he was traded to Trail on Oct. 1.
“It’s an awesome feeling to come back in this rink and play in front of all the people I love, my friends and family,” said Cunningham.
“I just came in with a new group this year, I needed a change this year, I think it was best for me, the first time I’ve had fun playing hockey in a while, and it was an awesome beating my old team in my home arena.”
Goalie Evan Fradette made that split possible when he turned aside 31 Spruce Kings shots to improve his BCHL record to 6-3-1. Fradette was especially sharp early in the third period when the league’s top power play went to work on a four-minute advantage when Quinn Disher was assessed a double-minor for kneeing with two seconds left in the second period.
“He’s awesome,” said Cunningham, referring to Fradette. “He’s always great. He’s great moving the puck, makes some wicked saves and keeps us in a lot of games.”
The Kings power play, which was working at a 42 per cent success rate heading into Saturday’s game, was held without a goal in six opportunities, while Trail went 0-4 with the man advantage.
Cunningham drew second-line duty playing he left side on a line with Brady Hunter and Zack Michaelis and that trio was held off without a point Saturday, but it was Hunter’s goal in the second period Friday that triggered a three-goal outburst for the Smokies to erase a 3-0 Prince George lead. The Kings went on to score two late power-play goals in the third period to lock up a 5-3 win.
In the rematch, Simon Labelle scored for Prince George just 24 seconds in and the Kings went on to outshot Trail 12-1, but were unable to add to their lead. Christian Lowe jumped on a fat rebound that Kings goalie Jordan Fairlie kicked out into the slot to make it a 1-1 count 7:48 into the second period.
In the third period, Teddy Lagerback batted in a pass out of the corner from Disher to give the Smokies their first lead of the weekend and a few minutes later, at 12:38, Coalson Wolford took the puck off the end boards and blasted it high int the net behind Fairlie, who suffered his first loss in four starts.
“We started off strong again, our starts have been good, but we were a bit sloppy and undisciplined in the second,” said Kings captain Kolton Cousins. “In the third we wanted it bad but some nights it just doesn’t go our way and I think we have to contribute more 5-on-5 and more wins will come our way.
“Obviously, our power play has been good but you can’t rely on it every night. They had a good penalty kill (to start the third period) and their goalie was good, you’ve got to give them a lot of credit for sticking with it.”
Through 11 games, the 20-year-old Cunningham has two goals and nine points playing for the Smoke Eaters and he loves the change of scenery as he prepares to jump to college hockey next season at Merrimack University.
“I’m feeling good, I’m just more focused on the little parts of my game, I’m not worried about points,” said Cunningham, who played on the Spruce Kings team that won the Fred Page Cup and Doyle Cup championships in 2019, the last time those titles were awarded.
“I just want to have team success and try to be a leader on the team and do what it takes t get a ‘w’ every game. It’s weird not passing to red, blue and white jersey, obviously. We knew they were a good group and that these would be really hard points. After we lost the first one we knew we had to get the split and lot of guys stepped up tonight and we’re walking out with two points with smiles on our faces.”
Trail has a long tradition as a great hockey town and Cunningham is impressed with the level of fan support he sees on game nights at Cominco Arena.
“There’s 7,700 people in town and 2,000 are at our game,” said Cunningham.
“I knew nobody coming in, and the boys had open arms and they’ve treated me like a king. They’re really giving me the best opportunity I could have.”
Next up for the Spruce Kings is a date with the Vernon Vipers in Vernon on Wednesday. The Vipers will be the Kings’ opponents again on Friday at RMCA, followed by a home game Saturday against the visiting Coquitlam Express.
Saturday BCHL summary
Smoke Eaters at Spruce Kings
First Period
1. Prince George, Labelle 4 (Miller, Rheaume) 0:24
Second Period
2. Trail, Lowe 1 (Schenk, Parsons) 7:48
Third Period
3. Trail, Lagerback 4 (Disher, Kobelka) 9:52
4. Trail, Wolford 3 (Bushy, Strobel) 12:38
5. Prince George, Herrington 9 (Rheaume) 15:26
Shots on goal by
Trail 1 5 7 -13
Prince George 12 11 10 -33
Goal – Trail, Fredette (W,6-3-1): Prince George, Fairlie (L,3-1-0).
Power plays – Tr: 0-4; PG: 0-6
Attendance - 791
