The Prince George Spruce Kings put their work boots on in the third period as they took two massive points against Mainland Division rivals the Langley Rivermen by a 5-3 score on Thursday.
Parker Colley put Prince George out in front early finishing off a great individual effort against Langley goalie Bo Didur for a 1-0 lead.
The highlight reel goals continued as 17-year old forward Angus Crookshank went coast to coast and made a fantastic diving play to slide the puck past Spruce Kings netminder Tavin Grant evening the score at 1 after 20 minutes.
Langley took its first edge on the scoreboard after a timeout courtesy of Satchel Clendenin who roofed one glove-side on Grant for a 2-1 advantage.
Later in the period, the Spruce Kings clawed right back with a marker from Jarod Hovde on the power-play following a nice set-up by defenceman Drew Lennon keeping the puck in at the point following the draw.
The game opened up in the third when a mad scramble near the Prince George net led to a garbage goal from Andrew Dumareasque who potted his sixth of the season.
Cue the comeback.
It all started on a heads up pass at centre ice by forward Keegan Ward sending a laser to Ben Poisson who took advantage of a fortunate bounce from the corner and sliding it past Didur for a 3-3 game.
The turning point of the game came on a dominant two minute shift by the Spruce Kings hemming in the Rivermen for about two minutes leading to the game-winner from Colley at the side of the goal.
Brett Mennear took the game over late by burying a Langley turnover in the period while shorthanded ripping it past Didur for a 5-3 lead.
Grant made 30 saves in the victory for Prince George including 3 key saves in the third.
MYPGNOW spoke with Colley after the game and says the team is pleased with the final result despite some lapses. “It is not the kind of game we want to be in, we’ll take it for sure since it’s a character win for us since they scored that early goal and we responded right after.”
Colley could be in line for some additional offensive opportunities thanks to the recent departure of Jaime Huber. “It’s tough to see a guy like that go since he was a big part of our team but I have an opportunity for me to step up, take charge and show the team what I can put up.”
Rivermen Goalie Bo Didur has struggled at the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena over the past two seasons allowing goals off of funny bounces from the corner and says the rink has been a house of horrors for him.
“Last year it was just one of those things having them score twice off the bounce and I would shake my head and laugh but it’s a different barn with some perks which makes it hard to come and play in.”
Prince George improves to 15-12-1-2 on the season and is now 6 points up on Langley for third spot in the Mainland Division.
Both teams play again on Friday at 7pm from the RMCA.
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