Game: Chilliwack Chiefs vs Powell River Kings
Arena: Hap Parker Arena
Puck Drop: 7:30pm
Broadcast: Starts at 7:00pm
95.7 SunFM Free Audio
FastHockey PPV Video
Kings This Season vs Opposition: 2-0-0-0
Last Meeting: Kings won 8-5 (November 29th, 2013)
Kings 2013/2014 Record: 20-4-2-2 (1st Island)
Kings at home: 13-4-1-0
Kings Last 10: 6-1-2-1
Kings vs Mainland: 4-0-0-1
Opposition 2013/2014 Record: 7-19-1-2
Opposition on the road: 4-8-1-1
Opposition Last 10: 3-7-0-0
Before we get to the game, two things. First it’s the last time to see the Kings in 2013. Secondly, it’s Five Hole for Food night at the Hap. Bring a non-perishable food item to the game, with all proceeds going to the Powell River Food Bank. The Five Hole for Food competition is a league-wide initiative, with teams pitted against each other to raise the most food by weight. Merritt currently holds the league lead coming into the weekend. Now onto the game…
Deja vu for the Kings…another Friday and another game against Chilliwack. As the Kings come off a busy 3-in-3 weekend last week, the team now focuses on not only wrapping but sweeping the season series against the Chilliwack Chiefs. The Kings are 2-0 after 6-1 and 8-5 wins over Chilliwack this season, and while both were vastly different games, both showed some of the same characteristics that have made this team so successful to date.
In September, so many wildcards going into game 1 of a new season, but the Kings showed some resilience to just go out and ‘play’. It resulted in a strong 1st period and teed the Kings up for win number 1 of the season. Last Friday, resilience was also on display, as the Kings found themselves on the wrong end of a 3-1 score after 20 but turned it around and wound up winning a roller-coaster game 8-5.
How was that win sparked? You could make yet another argument for the penalty kill. The short-handed goal was icing on the cake, but it was kills late in the 1st and then early in the 2nd that the Kings scored on that helped bring momentum back. It also happened Sunday in Prince George, a long 5-minute major midway through the 3rd (Keats blow to the head) the team had to kill, they did (with some help via a Spruce Kings penalty with about 1:30 to go) and scored the game tying goal not long after.
But enough on history….to tonight. The Kings will be without Kurt Keats who is serving game 1 of a 2-game suspension thanks to a blow to the head penalty on Sunday in Prince George. I know the Kings took a 2nd look at it, however the hit itself doesn’t show up on the video from PG, and wasn’t able to be reviewed. It’s a big loss compounded by the absence tonight of JJ Coleshaw due to injury. Also out are Matt Scarth and Luke Ripley. Coming to help out is Gage Colpron from the Campbell River Storm, his 2nd game with the Kings this year. Also, Jonny Evans will dress again after what I thought was an impressive debut on Sunday in PG.
Jeff Smith is due to get the start, his 3rd in a row. It’ll be his 4th consecutive game however, as he came in relief of Jonah Imoo after 20 minutes in Chilliwack on Friday. Smith went 1-1-1 on the weekend, but still holds league leading numbers. He’s well ahead in goals against (1.79, .57 ahead) and save percentage (.940, .017 ahead).
After what looked like a turn around with the Chiefs, by stringing back to back wins just before the Kings came to town, the team is now back where it started and in the middle of a 4-game losing skid, that includes the 8-5 loss to the Kings. On the same weekend the Kings ventured north, the Chiefs were right behind with a stop in Penticton Saturday the back to Langley Sunday. It was a tough weekend where the Chiefs essentially played all 3 division leaders at the top of their games.
Despite the record, Friday’s game should make it clear you can’t take them lightly. Coached by veteran BCHL boss Harvey Smyl, the team works incredibly hard and has some great skill. Up front, Austin Plevy can be among the league’s best forwards on any given night. He’s looked good dating back to his time with the Rivermen and has a commitment to Merrimack for next season. Ben Butcher had a good game against the Kings last week, as did Plevy’s line-mate Blake Gober.
On the back end, Carter Cochrane was fantastic offensively. I didn’t notice him too much defensively, but any time the puck was threatening the Kings net, Cochrane was around it. The 17 year old rookie is 2nd in both points and goals scored for the Chiefs this year. He’s a 4th forward at any given point and is dangerous whenever he’s on the puck. Of course, whenever you talk about Chilliwack’s blue line, you have to mention size. 6’7 Cooper Rush, 6’5 Cody Bardock, 6’3 Kiefer McNaughton. Add on another inch of two with skates and it’s a pretty imposing force to go through, or around.
In net, Spencer Tremblay started, but got chased in Chilliwack last week. He’s seen as a guy who can come in and provide some stability between the pipes…something that he’s been able to do in patches so far. Josh Halpenny is a year younger, but a year more experienced in the BCHL and played against the Kings at the showcase in September.
In our pre-game show, we’ll chat with the coaches from both benches, get to your keys to the game, the tale of the tape and stat pack. In the 1st intermission, we’ll chat with Kings forward Ryan Scarfo about last weekend’s road trip and his success against Chilliwack and Prince George. We’ll also talk with Jarid Lukosevicius about what he’s been doing differently that’s led him to scoring in 4 of his last 5 after going goalless in 6 through November.
In the 2nd intermission, our player profile segment continues with goaltender Jeff Smith. The post-game show will wrap the game and look ahead to tomorrow’s trip over to Victoria for the first time this season.
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