On Tuesday evening at the Coliseum, the Prince George Spruce Kings had no problem answering the bell against the Quesnel Millionaires in the form of dropping their gloves.

But when it came down to the on-ice action during the game’s 60 minutes, the visitors displayed more heart, determination, drive and physical play than the home team. As a result, they left the rink victorious by a 4-1 score.

Millionaires head coach and general manager Glen Watson was pleased to see his team show an improvement from the weekend, in which they lost all three games, 7-5 at home to the Spruce Kings on Friday, 7-3 at Williams Lake on Saturday and 8-2 at home to the Trail Smoke Eaters on Sunday.

“Everybody is working good, all three zones,” he said. “We were a lot better in our tips, forecheck and we just did a better job in the D-zone. We weren’t really getting the goaltending through the weekend, but (Luke) Seimens did a pretty good job.”

Seimens turned aside 27 shots for the victory. At the other end, Kyle Nielsen made 29 saves in the contest, and is still seeking his first BCHL win this season.

Seimens has been filling in for regular starter Kirby Halcrow, who’s been in Summerside, P.E.I., this week representing Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge. Spruce Kings defenceman Wes McLeod has also been skating with Team Canada West, and his absence has been felt in the defensive zone.

On Tuesday, the Mills’ goals were provided by Darick Ste-Marie, Tyler French, Taylor Holst and Skyler Smutek. Brad Bourke provided the Spruce Kings’ only goal, a power-play marker at the 13:42 mark of the second period.

“We anticipate that any time a Glen Watson-coached team comes into the Coliseum, they’re going to play with a lot of intensity and they did last night, and we saw the result,” Spruce Kings assistant general manager Mike Hawes said on Wednesday.

The Spruce Kings also played without defenceman Josh Pineiro, whose upper body injury will also keep him out of the lineup this weekend. Hawes said he might return to practice on Monday.

Quesnel played without the services of injured players Rylan Stanyer (hand) and Breyden DeCock (lower body). Watson also confirmed that the 20-year-old forward they acquired in a trade with the Burnaby Express this week, Jon Puskar, elected not to report to the team. Puskar had nine goals and 15 assists in 20 games with the Express this season.

The Spruce Kings, who also lost 4-3 to the Trail Smoke Eaters on Saturday at the Coliseum, play their third match of a four-game homestand tonight when they welcome the Vernon Vipers to the Coliseum. They wrap up the homestand on Saturday with the Williams Lake TimberWolves providing the opposition. Both those games begin at 7 p.m.

The Spruce Kings will then play in Williams Lake on Tuesday, their second of three consecutive Tuesday evening games.