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| Royals celebrate a 3-2 win over the Rockets Saturday. |
The Royals earn a split in the weekend double header after falling 4-1 to the Rockets Friday.
“Great comeback, full team effort from the guys, we started a little bit slower than we wanted to, but we showed what we can do in the second and third, we came back and showed a little character so that was nice.” said second star Jesse Zgraggen.
Coleman Vollrath earned the victory with a 30 save performance in his first WHL start. Jordon Cooke allowed 3 goals on 25 shots for his 5th loss.
“We got a goaltending problem…” said Sacilotto with a smile on his face, when asked about the play of Vollrath, “He played his angles really well, he was really big in the net and he made some key stops. I was really proud of him – he played a great game.”
Kelowna took a 1-0 lead to the dressing room after 20, just as they did the night before, and 2-1 after 40.
It was fight filled second period, with 3 altercations. Tim Traber fought Tyrell Goulbourne, then Ben Walker took on Colton Sissons before Austin Carroll was issued the only fighting major against Ryan Olson.
Myles Bell capatalized late on the power play late to retake the lead for Kelowna. Victoria could have been deflated, but according to Sacilotto assistant coach of the Royals they recovered well.
“We still rallied behind that, and I though we outstanding in the third.”
Olsen was issued a game misconduct in the third for a check to the head of Royals defenseman Joe Hicketts, who later returned to the ice.
Victoria scored the only two goals of the third. Walker collected the Gordie Howe Hat Trick, plus the game winner with under 3 minutes left in the third, after Jesse Zgraggen evened the score 6:16 into the final frame.
Zgraggen had a scare in the second, as his visor came flying off after blocking a Myles Bell point shot with his helmet, luckily he came away unscathed.
Both clubs went 1 for 5 with the man advantage.
Victoria is 1-1 in their four game homestand and await Zane Jones and the Calgary Hitmen on Thursday, before the Wheat Kings arrive on Tuesday Oct 23rd.
Sacilotto on the next match up, “It’s a tough, competitive league and you’ve got to be ready to play every night, and It doesn’t matter who the opponents are, they’re going to give you a rough ride…there’s no free lunches in this league…”
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Kelowna Rockets 2 at Victoria Royals 3 - Status: Final
Saturday, October 13, 2012 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC
Kelowna 1 1 0 - 2
Victoria 0 1 2 - 3
1st Period-
1, Kelowna, Chartier 3 (Stadel, Linaker), 6:53.
Penalties-Cooke Kel (tripping), 3:47; Gogolev Vic (holding), 16:42; McKinlay Kel (interference), 17:02.
2nd Period-
2, Victoria, Walker 3 (Gogolev), 3:31.
3, Kelowna, Bell 6 (Bowey, McKinlay), 19:26 (PP).
Penalties-Goulbourne Kel (major-fighting, 10-minute misconduct), 2:16; Traber Vic (major-fighting), 2:16; Sissons Kel (major-fighting), 6:27; Walker Vic (major-fighting), 6:27; Zgraggen Vic (hooking), 10:51; Carroll Vic (major-fighting, game misconduct), 14:39; Stahl Vic (delay of game), 15:27; Magee Vic (delay of game), 16:45.
3rd Period-
4, Victoria, Zgraggen 1 (Walker, Fushimi), 6:16.
5, Victoria, Walker 4 (Stahl, Nelson), 17:44 (PP).
Penalties-Johnston Kel (hooking), 0:50; Magee Vic (embellishment), 0:50; Olsen Kel (major - checking to the head, game misconduct), 1:16; Johnston Kel (holding), 7:16; Severson Kel (tripping), 17:19.
Shots on Goal-
Kelowna 12-9-11-32. Victoria 3-11-11-25.
Power Play Opportunities-
Kelowna 1 / 5; Victoria 1 / 5.
Goalies-
Kelowna, Cooke 3-5-1-0 (25 shots-22 saves).
Victoria, Vollrath 1-0-0-0 (32 shots-30 saves).
A-5,361
Referees-Adam Griffiths (36), Sean Raphael (28).
Linesmen-Jason Cramer (57), Tim Digby (75).
