–In a likely playoff preview, the Prince George Spruce Kings exploded with five unanswered goals in the second period to crush the Langley Rivermen 7-3 before just 324 fans in Langley. Braiden Epp led the way with a hat trick and one assist. The (26-20-0-5) Spruce Kings have won four straight to move within two points of second place Langley in the BCHL Mainland Division. Both teams have seven regular season games left, three against each other. The Spruce Kings continue on the road tonight in Cowichan against the (19-29-2-2) Capitals and Saturday in Victoria against the (22-28-1-01) Grizzlies.
–The bottom team in the B.C. Division visits the top team in the Central Division tonight as the (21-32-2-2) Prince George Cougars continue their Alberta swing against the Tigers in Medicine Hat. The two clubs met three weeks ago in Medicine Hat with the Tigers posting a 5-2 victory. With just 15 games left, the Cougars trail Kamloops by two points and third place Vancouver by three.
–The Major Midget leading Cariboo Cougars visit the second place Vancouver North West Giants Saturday and Sunday. The 28-7-1 Cougars are 8 points ahead of the 23-8-3 Giants and the Giants have two games in hand.
–The UNBC Timberwolves men’s basketball team is in second place in the Canada West Explorer Division with an 11-8 record following a convincing 86-56 victory over the last place UBC Okanagan Heat. In the women’s game, UBCO edged the (2-17) Lady Timberwolves 66-60 in a match-up of the bottom two teams. UNBC will again play the Heat today in Kelowna to wrap up the regular season.
–Megan Heinicke of Prince George led the three Canadians in a World Cup biathlon race in Oslo, Norway. The 26-year-old Heinicke shot clean and finished 12th out of 86 in the women’s 15-kilometre individual to tie her best result of the season.
–12 teams, including BC champion Patti Knezevic of PG, begin the National Scotties Tournament of Hearts (Canadian Ladies Curling Championship) this weekend in Moose Jaw. Knezevic meets Saskatchewan in her opener Saturday afternoon.
–It’s Day one of the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George. The Opening Ceremonies will be held tonight at 7 at CN Centre. “We couldn’t be more proud of the team of athletes, coaches and mission staff we have assembled for these Games,” said Rob Needham, Chef de Mission for Team BC. “Our province will be well represented (249 athletes, including 19 from Prince George) and it is a special honour for us to welcome the rest of the country to B.C. as the host team.” The 2015 games are unique in that they will be the first host Games for the province of B.C.
Competition begins Saturday in Ringette (PG Coliseum), Women’s Hockey (CN Centre/Kin 2), Long-Track Speed-Skating (Outdoor Ice Oval), Alpine Skiing (Purden/Tabor) and Free-style Skiing (Tabor).
