The signs of a Spruce Kings team searching for consistency were everywhere on Friday night in front of 967 fans at the Kopar Memorial Arena.
They were present in every sense on the ice – at times dominating the time of possession inside the opposing zone, only to make untimely unforced errors that would change the course of what would be a 4-1 loss at the hands of the Coquitlam Express.
After all the pomp and circumstance surrounding the 2024-25 BCHL home opener was done PG showed flashes of why it may or may not climb up the league standings.
The Express settled into the contest rather quickly outshooting the Spruce Kings 5-0 in the opening minutes until the game experienced its first sudden change.
PG was the beneficiary of three consecutive power-plays including a lengthy 5-on-3 but were unable to solve Coquitlam netminder Eric Young.
A risky pass up the middle of the defensive zone by Spruce Kings overage defenseman Trent Ballantyne led to a clear cut breakaway for James Shannon who beat goaltender Carter Wishart for a 1-0 edge.
Prior to the first intermission, PG again would find itself on the wrong side of a costly error. A too many men on the ice penalty at the 18:17 ended up coming back to haunt the hosts as Joseph Odynieck re-directed a pass from Shannon giving Coquitlam a 2-0 edge after 20 minutes.
Neither side got much accomplished in the middle period – however, an interference penalty to start the third was a backbreaker for the Spruce Kings as Shannon lit the lamp for the second time wristing home an easy shot through a yawning cage as Wishart struggled to move post-to-post.
Thomas Zocco made it 4-0 Coquitlam four minutes later, parking himself in front of the PG goal and capitalizing on a feed from ex-Salmon Arm Silverback Nick Wellenreiter.
PG finally gave the subdued home crowd something to cheer about as Vanderhoof product Linden Makow buried a rebound past Young to trim the deficit back down to three.
The play started at the Coquitlam blue line where Brock Cummings set up an odd-man rush and dealt the puck in the area of Makow and Kazumo Sasaki.
PG (2-2) outshot Coquitlam (3-0) 32-31 but went 0-for-5 on the power-play while the Express were 3-for-6.
On a side note, former Spruce Kings forward and captain Kyle Johnson made his return to the Kopar Memorial Arena – this time as a member of the Express coaching staff working under bench boss Jeff Wagner and former St. Louis Blues prospect Brett Sonne.
Johnson spent three years with the Spruce Kings from 2015-16 to 2017-18. He became captain in his final season, leading PG to its first Fred Page Cup final against the Wenatchee Wild where they would bow out in five games.
The 27-year-old would then head off to Yale University to play for the Bulldogs for three seasons. Once graduated Johnson went to France for two years where he played in the second and third-tier pro leagues.
His younger brother Kent, also played in the BCHL for the Trail Smoke Eaters and was selected 5th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
PG and the Express finish up the weekend double-header tonight at 6pm from the Kopar Memorial Arena.
Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].