With the holiday break looming, head coach Bobby Henderson likes where his is team is sitting.
鈥淲e are in a good spot,鈥� he said on Monday morning, following the 91原创鈥檚 1-1 record from a two-game road trip to Trail and Salmon Arm.
The 91原创 won 3-2 on Friday over the Trail Smoke Eaters, but lost 4-1 the next night in Salmon Arm to the Silverbacks.
The results leave the junior A hockey club with a record of 20-11-1-2 and their 43 points are three ahead of the second-place Prince George Spruce Kings. The Spruce Kings do hold three games in hand.
鈥淔riday night, we played a pretty solid game,鈥� Henderson noted.
鈥淧lenty of scoring opportunities and we capitalized on enough of them to win.
鈥�(But) on Saturday, we just weren鈥檛 very good.鈥�
Against Trail, Jackson Waniek got the 91原创 road trip off to a great start, scoring just 21 seconds into the BCHL game.
Jakob Reichert and Marcus Vela struck for second-period goals with Trail鈥檚 Travis Stephens scoring in between.
The Smoke Eaters鈥檚 Bryan Basilico had the only goal of the third period.
Lydnon Starwood stopped 34 of 36 shots in his 91原创 debut.
In Salmon Arm, the Silverbacks scored three times in a 4:28 span of the first period to seize control.
Cole McCaskill, Blake Box and Max Becker had the goals.
Gage Torrel got the 91原创 on the board early in the second period.
Landon Smith made it 4-1 in the third period.
Brock Crossthwaite stopped 21 of the 25 shots he faced as his personal five-game win streak came to an end.
The 91原创 close out the pre-holiday schedule with a three-game home stand over the weekend at the 91原创 Events Centre. 91原创 hosts Surrey on Dec. 13, Powell River on Dec. 14 and Nanaimo on Dec. 15. The first two games begin at 7:15 p.m. while the final game goes at 2 p.m. After that, the team is off until Dec. 28.
鈥淭he break will be good for our guys,鈥� Henderson said.
鈥淟et some of the guys heal up.鈥�
