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| Crooks shot was stopped, but Walker would score. |
The Royals trailed 2-0 just 15 seconds in on a pair of goals by Tim Bozon seven seconds apart, but scored four unanswered to defeat the Blazers for the first time in six meetings (1-4-1-0).
Keith Hamilton made 33 saves for his 15th win of the season, as Cole Cheveldave recorded just his 6th loss with a 31 save effort.
Kamloops has now lost back to back games after a riding a 9 game win streak, and pointless for the first time in 11. Victoria with 37 points, has now won 2 of their last 3, and remain one point back of Seattle for 7th, moving 5 up on 9th place Prince George.
Royals goaltending coach Brady Robinson on the win:
Victoria started the come back on Robin Soudek’s 21st to trail by one after 20 minutes.
In the second, the Royals out shot the Blazers 16-5 and came away with 2 goals to show for. Hayden Rintoul’s 12th on the power play and Ben Walker 4th with the eventual game winner, gave the Royals a 3-2 lead heading into the third.
Brandon Magee’s 15th on the man advantage added some insurance at the 11:24 mark in the third. The Blazers pressed late on the power play with the goalie pulled, but Victoria hung on for their 15th win, and 9th at home.
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| The Royals celebrate Ben Walker's goal. |
Victoria’s power play clicked twice on seven opportunities, as Kamloops went 0 for 5. The Royals and Blazers each had 35 shots on the night.
Jamie Crooks had 2 assists, and now has 6 points in his last 3 outings (2g 4a). Robin Soudek has now scored a goal in each of his last 3 games. Hayden Rintoul leads all WHL defenseman in power play goals with 11. Logan Nelson extends his point streak to 3 games with an assist (2g 3a). Brandon Magee and Ben Walker finished the night with a goal and assist each.
For Kamloops, Tim Bozon’s 2 goals puts him just one back of Vancouver’s Marek Tvrdon in rookie scoring with 49 points. J.C. Lipon had 2 helpers.
Saturday night the Royals will look for back to back wins against the Blazers, with the pregame show starting at 6:45 on the Zone at 91.3 FM.
Rookie forward Ben Walker in the post game show:
Kamloops Blazers 2 at Victoria Royals 4 - Status: Final
Friday, January 27, 2012 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC
Kamloops 2 0 0 - 2
Victoria 1 2 1 - 4
1st Period-
1, Kamloops, Bozon 24 (Lipon), 0:08.
2, Kamloops, Bozon 25 (Lipon, Hansen), 0:15.
3, Victoria, Soudek 21 (Hodges, Magee), 7:57.
Penalties-Hrbas Kam (tripping), 3:32; Nelson Vic (charging), 9:46; Nelson Vic (interference), 12:48; Gaudet Kam (tripping), 14:59; Bell Kam (delay of game), 15:38.
2nd Period-
4, Victoria, Rintoul 12 (Walker, Nelson), 5:16 (PP).
5, Victoria, Walker 4 (Crooks, Nelson), 18:24.
Penalties-Schaber Kam (holding), 5:12; Nelson Vic (interference), 8:02; Schaber Kam (high sticking), 15:49.
3rd Period-6, Victoria, Magee 15 (Soudek, Crooks), 11:24 (PP).
Penalties-Hansen Kam (elbowing), 11:13; Needham Kam (roughing), 14:08; Conroy Vic (roughing), 14:08; Gaudet Kam (holding), 14:39; Rintoul Vic (tripping), 15:37; Walker Vic (cross checking), 19:14; Lipon Kam (roughing), 19:59; Habscheid Vic (roughing), 19:59.
Shots on Goal-
Kamloops 17-5-13-35.
Victoria 12-16-7-35.
Power Play Opportunities-
Kamloops 0 / 5; Victoria 2 / 7.
Goalies-
Kamloops, Cheveldave 25-6-1-3 (35 shots-31 saves).
Victoria, Hamilton 15-23-1-3 (35 shots-33 saves).
3 Stars:
1. Soudek
2. Magee
3. Bozon
A-5,593
Referees-Ryan Benbow (62), Mike Campbell (89).
Linesmen-Riley Friesen (76), Nathan Van Oosten (115).
