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Prince George Spruce Kings back on home ice this weekend to take on Nanaimo

Players from South Korea and Sweden make BCHL debuts with Clippers one point ahead of PG in Coastal Conference standings
Ted Clarke
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Spruce Kings goalie Colin Reay has won two of his three starts since coming to Prince George in a trade from the Vernon Vipers. The Kings host the Nanaimo Clippers this Saturday night and Sunday afternoon at Kopar Memorial Arena.BCHL

The holiday is nearly over for the Prince George Spruce Kings.

After more than a week off for the Christmas break, the players will be back on Boxing Day, preparing to take on the Nanaimo Clippers in a doubleheader at Kopar Memorial Arena Saturday (6 p.m.) and Sunday (3 p.m.).

The Clippers and Spruce Kings are neck and neck in the BC Hockey League’s Coastal Conference standings. Nanaimo (10-15-2-0) ranks eighth in the conference, one point ahead of the ninth-place Spruce Kings (9-15-2-1).

The Clippers have lost four of their last five games heading into their trip to Prince George. The Spruce Kings, winners of two of their last five, are also looking to get on a hot streak.

The Clippers are led offensively by 20-year-old RIT recruit Cole Lonsdale, who has 11 goals and 29 points in 27 games. The Mississauga, Ont., native ranks 16th in the BCHL scoring race.

The Kings hope to have their leading scorer, BCHL all-star forward Skogen Schrott, back in the lineup after he missed the Dec. 14 game with an unspecified injury. Schrott, a Michigan Tech recruit, is also on a point-per-game pace with eight goals and 18 assists in 26 games.

Kings captain Linden Makow remains sidelined with an injury. The Kings placed him on the 20-day injured list and he won’t be eligible to return until Jan. 11.

Min-Joon Huh, a 20-year-old forward from Seoul, South Korea, and Ludvig Basth, a 19-year-old defenceman from Gavle, Sweden, are expected to make their BCHL debuts playing for the Spruce Kings in Saturday’s game.

Kings fans can also expect to see Spruce Kings goalie Colin Reay guarding the crease at Kopar. Reay is 2-1 since coming to Prince George in a trade from the Vernon Vipers. He beat the Victoria Grizzlies 2-1 in his first game on the road with his new team and the 19-year-old from Sherwood Park looked sharp in his first home game, making 28 saves Dec. 14 when the Spruce Kings defeated the Langley Rivermen 6-3.

Reay sports a 2.96 goals-against average, ninth-stingiest in the BCHL. His .905 save percentage is 11th highest in the league, right behind that of Clippers goalie Chazz Nixon (.906).