Recap: VIC 1 - KEL 4

The Victoria Royals (6-4, 12 pts) fell to the visiting Kelowna Rockets 4-1 (4-3-1-0, 9pts) Friday night.

“We just came out a little flat today, and we couldn’t find any jump throughout the game.” Defenseman Keegan Kanzig. “We were inconsistent with our intensity and play tonight, and that’s an issue we’ll have to fix.”

Myles Bell chipped in with a pair of assists as the Rockets built up period leads of 1-0 and 3-1 before adding a single in the third.  Bell is now 2nd in league scoring with 16 points.  Kelowna got goals from Zach Franko, Henrik Nyberg, Colton Sissons and Damon Severson.

“I think the travel got to us a bit, with all the games we’ve been playing, and we had an all nighter on the bus and I don’t think that helped us too much…” commented Enio Sacilotto assistant Coach of the Royals, “…not to make any excuses (for the players), but this is one we’d like put behind us and get ready for tomorrow.”

Royals forward Mitch Deacon scored his first WHL goal late in the second.  Logan Nelson had his 5 game point streak snapped.

Kelowna out shot Victoria 31-21 on the night, as Jackson Whistle recorded his first win of the season in just his second appearance.  Patrick Polivka turned aside 27 pucks to take his third loss.

“I think it’s more physical and psychological, than technical…” said Sacilotto when asked which other areas they were looking to improve on, “Hopefully (the players) will go home get a good meal, get some sleep…tomorrow’s and new day and we’ll move onward and forward.”

The Royals were blanked on 7 power play chances, snapping a streak of 5 games with an extra man tally.  Kelowna executed a single on 5 chances.

Victoria drops their second in a row as they open a four game homestand.  It was the first of eight meetings on the season, they’ll entertain Kelowna Saturday night as part of a weekend double header.


Kelowna Rockets 4 at Victoria Royals 1 - Status: Final
Friday, October 12, 2012 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC

Kelowna 1 2 1 - 4
Victoria 0 1 0 - 1

1st Period-
1, Kelowna, Franko 4 (Bell, Wheaton), 18:06.

Penalties-Carroll Vic (tripping), 6:52; Martin Kel (interference), 19:04.

2nd Period-
2, Kelowna, Nyberg 2 (McKinlay, Bowey), 3:42.
3, Kelowna, Sissons 5   13:46.
4, Victoria, Deacon 1 (Fushimi, Cote), 19:22.

Penalties-Goulbourne Kel (major-fighting), 4:45; Kanzig Vic (major-fighting), 4:45; Stahl Vic (checking from behind), 5:22; Gogolev Vic (high sticking), 8:07; Glover Kel (high sticking), 15:09; Martin Kel (slashing), 17:15.

3rd Period-
5, Kelowna, Severson 2 (Olsen, Bell), 12:44 (PP).

Penalties-Glover Kel (high sticking), 5:52; Sissons Kel (roughing, major-fighting), 9:12; Stahl Vic (checking to the head, major-fighting), 9:12; Lees Kel (roughing), 9:42; Carroll Vic (roughing), 9:42; Magee Vic (inter. on goaltender), 9:42; Nyberg Kel (high sticking), 10:27; Nelson Vic (checking from behind), 11:44; Bell Kel (roughing), 14:57; McKinlay Kel (roughing), 14:57; Hicketts Vic (roughing), 14:57; Zgraggen Vic (roughing), 14:57; Wheaton Kel (checking from behind), 15:29; Heffley Kel (roughing), 16:58; Martin Kel (roughing), 16:58; Kanzig Vic (roughing), 16:58.

Shots on Goal-
Kelowna 7-10-14-31. Victoria 7-4-10-21.

Power Play Opportunities-
Kelowna 1 / 5; Victoria 0 / 7.

Goalies-
Kelowna, Whistle 1-0-0-0 (21 shots-20 saves).
Victoria, Polivka 5-3-0-0 (31 shots-27 saves).

A-5,155
Referees-Pat Smith (12).
Linesmen-Riley Friesen (76), Kirk Van Helvoirt (107).