Recap: KAM 4 - VIC 1 (Game 4)

The Royals and Blazers shake hands after a 4-0 series sweep by Kamloops Wednesday.

The Kamloops Blazers sweep the Victoria Royals to win their first playoff series since 1999 with a 4-1 victory in the capital city Wednesday night.

“…You’re always disappointed when you lose, but I thought our guys started strong…then in third, just seemed emotionally we were out of gas more than physically…” Marc Habscheid Head Coach & GM of the Royals.

Keith Hamilton stops Chase Souto on a breakaway.

Brandon Herrod had three assists, Dylan Willick two goals and 40 goal man Brendan Ranford scored his first of the post season for the eventual game winner.

Cole Cheveldave made 30 stops for his 4th career playoff victory, while Keith Hamilton stopped 21 in the defeat.  The Royals out shot the Blazers 31-25.

Dylan Willick scores to make it 3-1.

Both teams were unable to score with the man advantage, Victoria had 3 chances on the power play to just 2 for Kamloops.

“That’s how you get better, you got to go through times like this you got to realize the intensity level and I think making the playoffs and being involved in four very intense games is going to help us a group.”  added Habscheid.

Ben Walker got his first of the post season to open the scoring for the Royals, before Matt Needham tied it up at 1.

In the second, the Blazers added a pair with Ranford scoring on a breakaway and Dylan Willick adding his 4th of the playoffs to take a 3-1 lead to the third.

Kamloops was able to shut down Victoria’s offense in the final frame and added an empty net by Willick to win 4-1.

The Royals will have to continue to wait for the City’s first playoff win since 1989, when the Cougars fell to the Blazers 5 games to 3.


The club graduates overagers D Hayden Rintoul and F Robin Soudek as they pursue pro careers.

Tri City and Medicine Hat also advance with 4-0 series wins against Everett and Saskatoon respectively.

Marc Habscheid on Game 4:


F Tim Traber on the emotion after the series loss:
 

Marc Habscheid reflects on the past season:


Marc Habscheid on what's next on the agenda:

 
Kamloops Blazers 4 at Victoria Royals 1 - Status: Final
Wednesday, March 28, 2012 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC

Kamloops 1 2 1 - 4
Victoria 1 0 0 - 1

1st Period-
1, Victoria, Walker 1 (Nelson, Traber), 1:40.
2, Kamloops, Needham 2 (Gaudet), 12:13.

Penalties-Carroll Vic (elbowing), 3:03; Hansen Kam (holding), 5:29; Hodges Vic (embellishment), 5:29.

2nd Period-
3, Kamloops, Ranford 1 (DePape, Herrod), 4:27.
4, Kamloops, Willick 4 (Herrod, Maschmeyer), 13:07.

Penalties-Souto Kam (tripping), 9:34.

3rd Period-
5, Kamloops, Willick 5 (Herrod), 18:47 (EN).

Penalties-Lipon Kam (slashing), 0:11; Rintoul Vic (hooking), 1:08; Hansen Kam (high sticking), 6:09.

Shots on Goal-
Kamloops 6-7-12-25.
Victoria 11-12-8-31.

Power Play Opportunities-
Kamloops 0 / 2; Victoria 0 / 3.

Goalies-
Kamloops, Cheveldave 4-0-0-0 (31 shots-30 saves).
Victoria, Hamilton 0-3-0-0 (24 shots-21 saves).

A-5,277
Referees-Trevor Hanson (19), Matt Kirk (4).
Linesmen-Bevan Mills (98), Kirk Van Helvoirt (107).