Recap: GAME 2 Victoria 4 - Kamloops 6

Dylan Willick scored the insurance marker into an empty net to give the Kamloops Blazers a 6-4 victory over the visiting Victoria Royals Saturday night, taking a 2-0 series lead.

Austin Carroll scores

“Credit to our guys, we hung in there in the third period and made a game of it…” – Enio Sacilotto, Royals Assistant Coach

The series shifts back to the Island Tuesday and Thursday at Bear Mountain arena for games 3 and 4.

Trailing 2-0 after 20 minutes, the Royals cut the lead in half in the middle frame before the Blazers scored 3 goals in 4 minutes to give them a 5-1 lead going into the third.

Polivka makes a save on Kessey

“We didn’t get any breaks and we didn’t do ourselves any favours on keeping our composure and we lost it a bit when they scored a flurry of goals…”  Sacilotto said.

Mounting a comeback, the Royals scored 3 times in the final frame to cut the lead to 5-4, but fell short.

“It’s huge, gives us a ton of momentum going into the next game, hopefully we get a good start, keep pushing all game and play a full 60 minutes.” – F Taylor Crunk

Polivka stones Ranford in alone

Jamie Crooks and Austin Carroll had a goal and assist each, while Patrik Polivka made 23 saves.  His counterpart, Cole Cheveldave stopped 20 of 24.

Joel Edmundson was the games first star with 2 goals and an assist, JC Lipon had 4 assists to add to his 2 goals from game one for 6 points in the series.  Tim Bozon scored twice, Colin Smith had 2 helpers and Brendan Ranford a goal and assist.

#8 Tyler Soy

8th overall bantam selection in 2012, forward Tyler Soy scored his first WHL playoff goal, just his second marker of his career. 

“We almost had them in the third period…the game got away from us in the 2nd period with some penalty troubles and some unlucky bounces there way.  We really battled back in the end and almost got it.” – Tyler Soy Royals Forward

Brandon Magee rounded out the scoring for Victoria.

The Royals power play was 2 for 5, while stopping 4 of 5 Blazer opportunities.

Gagnon helped off the ice

Defenseman Ryan Gagnon fell awkwardly into the boards in the first period, and after laying motionless on his back, got up and skated off with the help of the trainers, but did not return.

“I saw him in the dressing room right afterwards, and he was walking, and talking and quite upset that he had put himself in that position and was out of the game, but hopefully he’ll be back soon.” – Cam Hope Royals GM

Fransoo and Kessey mix it up

Jamie Crooks goal set the franchise mark for most playoff goals with 8 passing Ryan Howse, while playing in his franchise setting 17th post season game.  He is now tied with Kevin Sundher for most playoff points.

Victoria scratched Tyler Stahl (Lower, day to day), Trent Lofthouse (Upper, day to day) Alex Gogolev (Lower, indefinite), Koton Dixon, Brandon Fushimi and Luke Harrison (Upper, indifinite).

Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarter-Finals is on Tuesday, March 26. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. at Bear Mountain Arena.


Victoria Royals 4 at Kamloops Blazers 6 - Status: End of Game
Saturday, March 23, 2013 - Interior Savings Centre - Kamloops, BC

Victoria 0 1 3 - 4
Kamloops 2 3 1 - 6

1st Period-
1, Kamloops, Edmundson 1 (Ully, Lipon), 13:17.
2, Kamloops, Edmundson 2 (Lipon, Smith), 18:46 (PP).

Penalties-Traber Vic (roughing), 3:55; Bozon Kam (roughing), 3:55; Kanzig Vic (roughing), 17:43.

2nd Period-
3, Victoria, Crooks 1   11:49 (PP).
4, Kamloops, Bozon 1 (Edmundson, Kessy), 12:43.
5, Kamloops, Ranford 1 (Lipon), 13:40 (SH).
6, Kamloops, Bozon 2 (Smith), 16:43.

Penalties-Polivka Vic (goalie, ineligible p), 1:58; Kessy Kam (kneeing), 6:35; Hrbas Kam (tripping), 10:22; Grist Kam (roughing), 13:27; Nelson Vic (kneeing), 18:05.

3rd Period-
7, Victoria, Soy 1 (Carroll, Deacon), 7:44.
8, Victoria, Carroll 1 (Fransoo), 16:10 (PP).
9, Victoria, Magee 1 (Crooks, Cote), 18:16.
10, Kamloops, Willick 1 (Ranford, Lipon), 18:52 (EN).

Penalties-Hansen Kam (interference), 4:07; Magee Vic (charging), 8:55; Kanzig Vic (10-minute misconduct), 14:50; Souto Kam (inter. on goaltender), 14:50; Crooks Vic (slashing), 19:47.

Shots on Goal-
Victoria 6-10-8-24.
Kamloops 14-10-5-29.

Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 2 / 5;
Kamloops 1 / 5.

Goalies-
Victoria, Polivka 0-1-0-0 (28 shots-23 saves).
Kamloops, Cheveldave 1-0-0-0 (24 shots-20 saves).

A-4,505
Referees-Tyler Adair (58), Devin Klein (9).
Linesmen-Tim Digby (75), Chris Sweeting (137).