Sunday 17 February 2013

Recap: Victoria 2 - Edmonton 5

Michael St.Croix had 3 points to lead the Edmonton Oil Kings past the visiting Victoria Royals 5-2 Sunday.
Vollrath makes a save

The Royals led 2-0 after 20 minutes, but the Oil Kings scored 3 in the 2nd, and a pair in the third, part of 5 unanswered to take the victory. 

“Last time we were in this building we had a lead after the first period and we talked about it in the room, to not let them back in it, and they did just that.” – Royals forward Jamie Crooks

Edmonton was coming off a 6 day break.  Victoria was playing 3 in 3, and wrapped up a 6 game in 10 night road trip with a (2-3-0-1) record, picking up 5 points along the way.

The line of Jamie Crooks (1g), Steven Hodges (1g 1a) and Brandon Magee (2a) combined for 5 points in the first period, but the home squad scored a pair :37 apart in the middle frame to take the lead and never looked back.

Vollrath stops Moroz
“We have to have our best players be our best players, and they knew it.  They were a lot better tonight and created chances early – they just couldn’t sustain it.” Ben Cooper Royals Assistant Coach
Michael Herringer

Coleman Vollrath stopped 32 for Victoria, and was relieved by Michael Herringer, a 9th round bantam pick who plays for the VIJHL Victoria Cougars stopping the lone shot he faced. 

Crooks thought Vollrath played well considering he doesn’t get many starts.

“Vollrath came in a he did all he could, and played very well and gave us a chance to win…”


Cooper on Herringer’s first WHL action,

“It gave Michael (Herringer) a taste of the WHL, and I’m sure it’ll make him more hungry to get back here…”
Crunk vs Lowe

Patrik Polivka was scratched with a lower body, day to day.  Laurent Brossoit earned his 27th win with 17 saves. 

It took just :10 seconds in the opening frame for Tim Traber to drop the mitts with Mitch Moroz, in the second Taylor Crunk bested Keegan Lowe in a rousing center ice tilt.

Victoria was 0/3 on the power play, while Edmonton was 1 for 5.

David Musil, Travis Ewanyk and Curtis Lazar rounded out the scoring for the Oil Kings who won by the same score in Edmonton Dec. 15th, and take the season series (2-0).

Lowe would need repairs
“They’re a team that if you give them time and space, they’re going to burn you, because they’ve got a lot of skill,”  said Crooks.

The Royals started off the 6 game trip with a pair of 5-3 victories over the Americans the Chiefs before falling 5-1 at Kootenay, picking up a point in a 2-1 shoot out loss at the Rebels, and a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Hitmen.

Victoria’s next home game is Friday, February 22nd when the Kelowna Rockets come for a pair.  The Saturday contest will feature the Royals wearing new Military Jersey’s in a tribute to our troops.  All personnel with military ID, get a ticket discount.

- by Marlon Martens

Victoria Royals 2 at Edmonton Oil Kings 5 - Status: Final
Sunday, February 17, 2013 - Rexall Place - Edmonton, AB

Victoria 2 0 0 - 2
Edmonton 0 3 2 - 5

1st Period-
1, Victoria, Crooks 29 (Hodges, Magee), 7:09.
2, Victoria, Hodges 25 (Magee), 15:21.

Penalties-Traber Vic (major-fighting), 0:10; Moroz Edm (major-fighting), 0:10; Nelson Vic (boarding), 2:31; Crunk Vic (kneeing), 11:09; Samuelsson Edm (hooking), 11:53.

2nd Period-
3, Edmonton, Ewanyk 7 (Corbett, Legault), 8:49 (PP).
4, Edmonton, St. Croix 29 (Cheek, Corbett), 13:51.
5, Edmonton, Musil 8 (St. Croix, Foster), 14:28.

Penalties-Reinhart Edm (interference), 0:36; Stahl Vic (tripping), 6:51; Crunk Vic (slashing), 13:51; Reinhart Edm (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 13:51; Crunk Vic (major-fighting), 18:41; Lowe Edm (major-fighting), 18:41.

3rd Period-
6, Edmonton, Lazar 30 (Gernat, Kulda), 5:35.
7, Edmonton, St. Croix 30   6:38.

Penalties-Carroll Vic (high sticking), 2:13; Dixon Vic (interference), 14:02; Kanzig Vic (10-minute misconduct), 14:02; Legault Edm (hooking), 18:15.

Shots on Goal-
Victoria 7-5-7-19.
Edmonton 12-19-7-38.

Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 0 / 3;
Edmonton 1 / 5.

Goalies-
Victoria,
Vollrath 2-8-0-1 (37 shots-32 saves);
Herringer 0-0-0-0 (1 shots-1 saves).

Edmonton,
Brossoit 27-7-2-3 (19 shots-17 saves).

A-8,910
Referees-Ian Croft (30), Brett Iverson (24).
Linesmen-Reid Anderson (53), Chris Carlson (92).