The Prince George Spruce Kings won their first B.C. Hockey League championship last spring in franchise history, dispatching the NHL-draft loaded Victoria Grizzlies along the way in the Coastal Conference final.
Form held into the new season Friday night in Prince George as the Spruce Kings dispatched the rebuilding Grizzlies 6-1.
Prince George (1-1-1) got off to a quick start with four unanswered goals in the first period. It was 5-0 before Darwin Lakoduk scored the Grizzlies’ lone goal of the game, on the power play, at 18:59 of the second period.
Joe Howe made 24 saves in goal for the Grizzlies and Jack McGovern 27 for the Spruce Kings.
The defending Island Division-champion Grizzlies have been outscored 14-3 in beginning the season 0-2. The season opener was an 8-2 loss last weekend in Duncan against the Island-rival Cowichan Valley Capitals.
Victoria visits Merritt tonight to play the Centennials and are in West Kelowna on Sunday afternoon against the Warriors to conclude its weekend road swing.
The road warriors continue with the Grizzlies in Vernon on Sept. 20 to play the Vipers, in Salmon Arm on Sept. 21 to take on the Silverbacks and in Trail on Sept. 22 to meet the Smoke Eaters.
The string of Grizzlies’ road games to start the season is because The Q Centre was booked this month for the 2019 Mann Cup national lacrosse final between the Victoria Shamrocks and victorious Peterborough Lakers.
The Grizzlies’ home opener is Sept. 28 when the Island Division-rival Powell River Kings pay a visit to The Q Centre.
