The Langley Rivermen are back in top spot and they used a familiar formula to do so.
The junior A hockey club began a tough stretch of four games in five days — with the first three on the road — with a 2-1 victory over the Prince George Spruce Kings.
The game was played on Nov. 27 at the Prince George Coliseum and the victory gives Langley (17-9-1-2, 37 points) a one-point advantage over the Spruce Kings (16-9-2-2, 36 points).
Neither team was able to score in the first 36 minutes, but Jakob Reichert stole the puck at centre ice and after his initial shot was denied, he buried his own rebound for a 1-0 lead after two periods.
And that sparked the team as 43 seconds into the third period, Will Cook banged home a James Robinson rebound for a 2-0 lead.
The Spruce Kings threw a dozen shots on goal in the final period, but only Braiden Epp was able to beat Rivermen goalie Brock Crossthwaite, and that goal came with 2:11 to play.
It was the first goal Crossthwaite had allowed in 129 minutes.
Crossthwaite finished with 32 saves, earning the game’s first star.
Next up on the road trip is a date with the Interior Division-leading Penticton Vees on Friday (Nov. 29) at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
The Rivermen wrap up the trip with a game on Nov. 30 in Kelowna against the West Kelowna Warriors and then host the Chilliwack Chiefs in a matinee on Dec. 1 at the Langley Events Centre.
