Things didn’t open up so well for the Spruce Grove Saints at the Western Canada Cup on Saturday as they dropped a 4-2 decision to the host Dauphin Kings.
The Saints opened the scoring just 7:05 into the first period. Riley Simpson (assists to Dylan Hollman and Jarid Hauptman) finished off a pretty passing play when he tipped the puck past Kings’ goaltender Jordan Piccolino.
The Kings answered back beating Saints’ goaltender Kenny Cameron over his glove. Jared Morris (assists to Jesse Bernard and Tanner Lomsnes) fired the wrist shot from the top of the slot at 9:25 to tie the game 1-1.
Shots favored the Saints 8-6 in the opening period.
The Kings took their first lead of the night 3:39 into the second as a Tanner Butler’s (assists to Ryan Cooper and Brent Wold) wrist shot beat a screened Cameron to make it 2-1.
Dauphin added to their lead on the power play at 8:11 of the Second period. Jared Morris (assists Brayden Cuthbert and Ryan Cooper) pounced on a rebound and whack the puck past Cameron.
Spruce Grove would trim into the lead thanks to a power play goal at 11:42. Parker Mackay (assists to Tyler Busch and Cameron Hughes) would stop the puck in front of Piccolino, spin and fire the puck into the back of the net to make it 3-2 in favor of the Kings.
The Saints outshot the Kings 14-7 in the period and 22-13 after two periods.
In the third period the Saints would get into penalty trouble and the Kings would make them pay with another power play goal at 12:08. Tanner Butler (assists to Jared Morris and Brayden Cuthbert) wired a one timer past Cameron to give the Kings a 4-2 lead.
Dauphin would outshoot the Saints 13-9 in the period, but it was the Saints who would outshoot Dauphin in the game 31-26.
Jordan Piccolino made 29 saves on 31 shots in the victory.
Kenny Cameron stopped 22 of 26 shots in the loss.
Spruce Grove will try and pick up their first win of the tournament on Sunday afternoon when they take on the BCHL champion Coquitlam Express. Puck drop for the game will be at 2:00.
Story by Chris Colwell