Prince George (Files from Prince George Spruce Kings) – Two goals from Preston Brodziak and 28 shots on goal was not enough as the Prince George Spruce Kings fell to the Chilliwack Chiefs by a 5-3 score.
In the opening frame, it was the Spruce Kings who started the scoring. Much to like Thursday night, Mason Waite had the puck just shy of the top of the right circle and let a wrister go and was able to bury it and give the Spruce Kings an early lead. The Waite power-play tally came at 8:14 with the helpers coming from Nolan Welsh and Nick Bochen. The Chiefs were able to get one back as Brett Willits as able to sneak the puck past Carter Woodside in a mad scramble in front of the net to tie the game at one. Brody Gagno and Kyle Penney got the assists on the Willits marker. Then at 18:22, Tommy Lyons picked the pocket of Nick Bochen behind the net and then was able to sneak the puck past Woodside to give the Chiefs a 2-1 lead. Peter Reynolds and Cooper Moore were credited with the assists on the power-play goal.
It took just 56 seconds for the Spruce Kings to find the back of the net in the second. Preston Brodziak got a lively bounce off the end boards that went right to his stick and put it past goaltender Mathieu Caron to tie the game up at two. At 7:06, Chiefs forward Kyle Penney was able to sneak one past the blocker side of Woodside to regain the Chiefs lead. Brett Willits and Joey Larson got the helpers on the Penney marker. 50 seconds later, Brett Rylance essentially just through the puck on goal and again somehow found a way to sneak the puck past the Spruce King goaltender to make it a two goal Chilliwack lead after two periods. That Rylance marker would end Carter Woodside’s night, and Jett Alexander came in relief.
The Chiefs did not give the Spruce Kings much in the third period from a scoring chance side of things. It took until the 18:15 mark for the Spruce Kings to get another. Mason Waite threw the puck in front of the goal and it was redirected by Preston Brodziak to score his second of the night and make it a one goal game. Waite and Nolan Welsh got the assists on the Brodziak goal. With 29 seconds to go, the Spruce Kings pulled Alexander and then within three seconds after that, Trevor Adams delivered the dagger and fired the puck from centre to the empty net. Tommy Lyons and Mathieu Caron were credited with the assists. The Chiefs were able to skate to a 5-3 win on a Friday night at the RMCA.
Chiefs next game is Sunday afternoon, 2PM at the Chilliwack Coliseum when they host Trail.
