Recap: VIC 3 - KEL 1

The Victoria Royals retake 7th spot in the West with a 3-1 road victory against the Kelowna Rockets.

The Line of Magee, Hodges & Crooks where buzzing around the Rocket net.

The Royals inch closer to a playoff berth, needing a combination of 9 points dervied from Victoria wins and/or Seattle losses.

The Royals celebrate a 3-1 win in Kelowna.

Trailing 1-0 going into the 3rd, the Royals scored 3 unanswered to snap a 2 game skid.

Victoria got goals from Logan Nelson, Jamie Crooks team leading 35th, and Brett Cote’s 1st in the WHL.  The last two came just 35 seconds apart.  Myles Bell had the lone tally for Kelowna who saw their 3 game win streak come to a halt.

Keith Hamilton in his hometown made 26 saves for his 18th win, while Adam Brown made 34 saves in the defeat.

Victoria wins the season series with a record of (5-2-0-1).

Assistant Coach Craig Didmon of the Royals post game:

 

Robin Soudek fights Carter Rigby

The Royals power play went 0 for 6, while stopping all 3 Rockets man advantages.  Victoria has now only allowed one goal while short handed over their last 8 games (28 for 29).

With a Silvertips loss to the Winterhawks, the Royals leap frog back into 7th spot with 50 points, 1 ahead of Everett (49), 4 up on Seattle (46) and 6 on Prince George (44).  Victoria has 4 games remaining, Everett and Prince George have 5, Seattle 6.

Victoria continues their 4 game in 5 night road trip in Everett Saturday, and wrap up 3 in 3 nights in Vancouver on Sunday.





Victoria Royals 3 at Kelowna Rockets 1 - Status: Final
Friday, March 9, 2012 - Prospera Place - Kelowna, BC

Victoria 0 0 3 - 3
Kelowna 0 1 0 - 1

1st Period-
No Scoring.

Penalties-Carroll Vic (major-fighting), 12:36; Heffley Kel (major-fighting), 12:36; served by Baillie Kel (too many men), 16:16; Rintoul Vic (checking from behind), 19:38.

2nd Period-
1, Kelowna, Bell 14 (Johnston), 9:51.

Penalties-Zgraggen Vic (major-fighting), 6:27; Astles Kel (charging, major-fighting), 6:27; Bulmer Kel (boarding, unsportsmanlike cnd.), 16:25; Soudek Vic (boarding), 17:55; McColgan Kel (holding), 18:48.

3rd Period-
2, Victoria, Nelson 22 (Carroll), 1:42.
3, Victoria, Crooks 35   6:22.
4, Victoria, Cote 1   6:57.

Penalties-Carroll Vic (holding), 4:07; McColgan Kel (checking from behind), 7:24; Soudek Vic (slashing), 7:45; Soudek Vic (major-fighting), 19:58; Rigby Kel (major-fighting), 19:58.

Shots on Goal-
Victoria 7-17-13-37. Kelowna 11-7-9-27.

Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 0 / 6; Kelowna 0 / 3.

Goalies-
Victoria, Hamilton 18-30-1-4 (27 shots-26 saves).
Kelowna, Brown 21-23-1-3 (37 shots-34 saves).

A-6,037
Referees-Steve Papp (17), Derek Zalaski (8).
Linesmen-Ron Dietterle (121), Tim Digby (75).