Spruce Kings Survive Record Breaking Semi-final

By Kelly Sharp

Spruce Kings celebrate 3-2 fifth overtime period victory against Camrose at CN Centre

In the longest game in the history of the RBC Royal Bank Cup- Canadian junior A hockey championship Jason Yuell scored 6:01 into the fifth overtime and eighth period to give the Prince George Spruce Kings a 3-2 semi-final victory over the Camrose Kodiaks at the CN Centre.

“That thing went on way too long, everyone was so tired,” said Yuell who redirected a Tyler Helfrich pass on the Kings ninth power play opportunity of the game.

 In what was a remarkable display of goaltending, Jordan White turned aside 93 shots in the Kings net. Allen York stopped 74 shots over the six hours of hockey.

“I am on such a high right now, we really battled,” said White. He called a save in the seventh overtime one of his biggest on a night of so many stellar stops.

Prince George appeared headed for a regulation time victory but the Kodiaks Jesse Todd scored with 1:51 left in the third to force extra time at 2-2.

“We have been a resilient team all year, we hung in there all the time, and give the players credit they played their hearts out,” said Spruce Kings head coach Ed Dempsey.

 The Kings led 1-0 after 20 minutes in a goal by Alain Joanette. Prince George was in front 2-o early in the second when Vinny Muchalla jammed the puck into the Camrose net off a goal mouth scramble. The Kodiaks made the most of their first power play opportunity as Joe Colborne converted a pass midway through the middle frame. Jordan White preserved the Kings 2-1 lead heading into the third facing 14 shots compared to only 6 on the Kodiaks Allen York in the second period.

Camrose head coach and general manager Boris Rybalka was shaking his head over the officiating. The Kodiaks  killed three consecutive Prince George power plays in overtime.

“That’s what is tough for a coach here are 2 goaltenders playing their hearts out and for some reason somebody decides to take it in their hands, that is the tough part, things happen for a reason , for some reason it was not meant to be.” said Rybalka who watched the winning  goal come off the Kings power play.

The Spruce Kings take on the well-rested Aurora Tigers for the Royal Bank Cup at 7:30 tonight at CN Centre. Aurora scored early in overtime to eliminate Pembroke  3-2 in the much earlier semi-final.

“Right now this is where we wanted to be, to get a shot at winning the National championship, all the players knew two years ago our goal, here we are now we just have to go out and take one more step to get the job done,” said Ed Dempsey.

Email | Print | Facebook | Twitter | Digg | Del.icio.us