The Prince George Spruce Kings brought an end to the Cranbrook Bucks’ three-game win streak, Friday evening at Western Financial Place. And on Teddy Bear Toss night, to boot.
The Bucks got their revenge on Saturday, though, in Game 2 of the double header.
The tradition of Teddy Bear Toss is where fans bring plush toys to throw onto the ice once the home team scores its first goal. The toys are then donated to local non-profit organizations.
And the Bears flew through the air early on Friday, with Bryce Sookro opening the scoring on the power play at 2:53, with assists from Joseph Blackly and Evan Brown.
Luke Pfoh made it 2-0 Bucks at the 13 minute mark, and it looked like the fans could settle in for a plush experience.
But after a scoreless second frame, which the Bucks dominated offensively (13 shots to seven), the Spruce Kings came out with extra edge to start the third.
Luca Primerano got Prince George on the board only 47 seconds in. And at 7:31 Alexis Cournoyer tied the game after a scramble in the Bucks Zone.
With only a minute and a half left in the game, the Spruce Kings broke out on a two-on-one rush, and Owen Goodbrand sealed the Prince George comeback, putting the puck past Braedyn McIntosh in the Cranbrook net.
After three straight overtimes in the three previous games, the Bucks were just unable to squeak into a fourth. Final score, 3-2 Prince George.
The Spruce Kings outshot the Bucks 31-29 on Friday night. The Bucks finished 1/1 on the power play.
Saturday night at Western Financial Place saw the Bucks come out looking for some payback, but Prince George was ready. The first period of Game 2 of the double-header stayed scoreless, with each team recording 10 shots on goal.
But it only took 27 seconds for Donovan Frias to get his eighth of the season, scoring on Spruce Kings’ goalie Marcus Ouellet.
Linden Makow tied things up five minutes later, but Zion Green restored the lead at the 13 minute mark.
The teams traded goals heading into the third — Makow got his second of the game early in the period, but the other Frias brother, Julian, made it 3-2 Bucks one minute later. Julian Frias sealed the deal with his second of the game into an empty net goal in the dying second. Final score, 4-2 Bucks.
Cranbrook put 35 shots on Ouellet, while Danick Leroux, in net for the Bucks, stopped 23 of 25 shots.
After the weekend action, the Cranbrook Bucks have moved up into sixth place of the Interior Conference of the BCHL, at 27-12-14-1 with 25 points, ahead of Merritt and Prince George, and just behind the Trail Smoke Eaters (26 points).
Cranbrook’s next action is at home, Friday, Dec. 15, against the Vernon Vipers, and Saturday, Dec. 16, when they host the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
