Spruce Kings win Royal Battle Round 1

The Powell River Kings put a scare into the Prince George Spruce Kings on Friday night at Kopar Memorial Arena, but an Ozbej Rep power-play goal was the eventual game winner in a 5-3 game.

Michael Denney got the Spruce Kings up at 2:06 of the opening period when be beat Devin Peck off a Ryan Wachtel pass for the lone goal of the opening period.

Powell River’s Ben Masi tied the game just 3:13 into the second on the end of a penalty kill when he beat Colin Reay.

Wachtel would score his 13th of the season on the man advantage at 6:13 from Denney and Trent LeDrew, when his wrist shot deflected off a Powell River defender and trickled through Peck and over the line in what appeared to be slow motion.

Peck made a remarkable save on Mathis Laplante in the middle frame as well, as he was down and out but managed to get the toe of his stick on the puck with Laplante behind him in the crease and an open four by six to shoot at.

Mason Loewen scored his 12th of the season at 15:28 of the third period from Andrew Murray, as his wrist shot was placed perfectly to the top corner.

Kamyl Chemrouk got Powell River back within one following up his wide shot off a healthy end board bounce and beat Reay to head to the dressing room down 3-2.

Powell River tied the game at 6:36 of the third when Jeremiah Mundy got the loose puck off a mishandle by teammate Michael Azzarone.

Rough stuff would erupt moments later at it had appeared Prince George was headed to a lengthy penalty, but a retaliatory spearing call when against the Spruce Kings to keep it five on five.

When Prince George did get their next power play, Ben Vreugdenhil won the draw to Marcus Lougheed who tapped it back to Rep.  A quick decision to shoot was the right one as the shot deflected past Peck off a Powell River defender to make it 4-3.

Carter Hesselgrave scored into an empty net with 48 seconds remaining for his 19th of the season.

The two teams battle again on Saturday night at 6:00 pm, tickets available at www.sprucekings.bc.ca/tickets