Warriors crowned by Spruce Kings

Jeremiah Luedtke snapped a 3-3 tie late in the third period as the undermanned Prince George Spruce Kings gutted out a 4-3 victory over the West Kelowna Warriors Saturday night at Royal LePage Place.

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet

Marcus Basara had a three point night in a losing effort Saturday

The Spruce Kings dressed just 18 bodies due to injury and illness and, by the time the second period started, three more players remained in the dressing room due to illness including starting netminder Liam McLeod.

Prince George was forced to go the rest of the way with 14 skaters and only one goaltender, Kirk Thompson, who let in eight the night before in a loss in Trail.

Leudtke, who didn't seem to leave the ice over the final 40 minutes, scored the winner and added a pair of assists in a winning cause as he and his teammates did just enough to get the win despite directing only 17 shots toward Warriors netminder Garrett Rockafellow.

"Four goals on 17 shots, it's not hard to figure out what went wrong," a dejected Rylan Ferster stated after the game.

Marcus Basara scored twice for the Warriors and added an assist. Josh Monk on a third period power-play also scored for the Warriors.

Tied at 1-1 late in the middle frame, Skyler Pacheco scored a power-play marker with just 8.8 seconds left in the period to give the Spruce Kings a one goal lead heading into the final 20 minutes.

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet

Ambrose Firkus just fails to tip a shot past Kirk Thompson as the Warriors fell 4-3 to PG Saturday

Sean Landry increased the lead to two before the Warriors struck back with goals from Basara and Monk less than two minutes apart in the third to draw the Warriors even.

It looked like the two teams might be heading for overtime when Luedtke tapped him a centering pass on a PG power-play with 4:15 to go with what proved to be the game winner.

"We give up a power-play goal, an easy goal and we probably don't deserve to with the hockey game," added Ferster.

The Warriros had several chances in the final minute with Rockafellow on the bench for an extra attacker but couldn't find a way to beat Thompson.

Ferster says special teams were key in this game as the visitors went 2-2 on the power-play while the Warriors didn't look too dangerous going just 1-4.

"I think guys should listen and do what they are told and maybe we would have some success," stated Ferster.

"We kind of set out the system that we want and guys want to be on their own page."

The Warriors completed their six game home stand 2-2-1-1.

They get the week off before hitting the road for the first game of a home-and-home series in Coquitlam Friday night.

The same two teams meet back at Royal LePage Place next Saturday.