Recap: Victoria 6 - Seattle 2

Jamie Crooks scored a Hat Trick to lead the visiting Victoria Royals (21-17-1-2, 45pts) to a 6-2 win against the Seattle Thunderbirds (16-24-2-1, 35pts) Saturday night.

Brandon Magee scores on Glover

The victory snapped a 2 game losing streak, and wrapped up a 3 game road trip on a winning note, after falling 6-1 in Kelowna Wednesday, and 7-4 in Everett Friday.

“I really liked the way we bounced back from the loss last night, I thought we came out, we were prepared to play – we had some urgency in our game.” – Head Coach Dave Lowry

Seattle is now winless in 13 games (0-11-1-1).  Victoria won by the same 6-2 score back on December 11^th at the Showare Center and leads the 4 game season series (2-0).

Netminder Patrik Polivka earned his 17^th win, and first star honours with a 37 save performance, and Lowry applauded his effort.

Polivka was awarded the first star medal

“That’s what you need from your goalie, and that’s why we came back with Patrik.  We felt that we have to get him to understand that we need him to give us an opportunity every night.  We need him to find a way when we’re not ready to go to give us a chance.  Tonight he some big saves and some timely saves as well.”

The Royals took a 3-0 lead in the 1^st intermission and went up 4-0 in the second before the T-birds cut the lead in half before the 2^nd was out.  Crooks added the only two in the third for the 6-2 victory.

Netminder Patrik Polivka on what was key in the win, “I think our skating was better than yesterday, we had more shots and traffic in front of the net.”

The Royals were especially dangerous with the man advantage, scoring 3 times on 5 chances, which pleased the Head Coach,

“I liked our power play tonight and I didn’t mind it last night, I thought we started taking steps again in the right direction.”

While the penalty kill did give up a goal on four Thunderbird chances, Crooks did score a short handed, empty net goal late.  Lowry liked the way the club sacrificed the body,

“Our guys worked at it (penalty kill)…we had guys that were sliding and blocking shots and that’s the commitment we’re going to need every night to win."

The glass shattered moments after Alex Gogolev was hit.

Victoria was already without Logan Nelson (Lower, 3-5 weeks), Ben Walker (Upper, 1-2 weeks), Captain Tyler Stahl (Upper) and Luke Harrison (Upper, indefinite) when they lost Tim Traber (lower), Mitch Deacon (crashed into the boards), Alex Gogolev (hit by Hauff), and Austin Carroll with penalties.  Lowry commented on the short handed staff,

“I thought the young guys did a good job, we were down to 8 forwards, they all got opportunities and obviously we’re hoping for the best when we get home and the evaluations are positive…We’re limping out of here tonight, but we know that teams go through this during the course of the year, what it does is helps teams grow and for us this is going to be a challenge…”

Jamie Crooks, 3rd star had the Hat Trick

Before he left the game in the 3^rd, Alex Gogolev had 2 assists, and Steven Hodges a goal and an assist.  Brandon Magee and Austin Carroll who opened the scoring, got the other goals for the Royals.

“I thought tonight our top guys were really good, and were the difference in the game.”- Dave Lowry

For Crooks it was his first Hat Trick of the year, the second for the club as Logan Nelson potted 3 November 10^th in Medicine Hat.  Crooks, who on Tuesday became the first player in the WHL to turn 21, now leads the team in goals with 21.

Victoria native Brandon Glover started the game for Seattle, but was replaced at the start of the 2^nd after allowing 3 goals on 9 shots.  His back up 16 year old Danny Mumaugh in just his 4^th appearance, made 26 saves on 28 shots.  Seattle edged Victoria 39-38 in shots. 

Newcomers F Adam Kambeitz (from Saskatoon) had an assist, while F Andrew Johnson (from Moose Jaw) was held of the scoresheet but was dangerous all night for the T-birds.

Victoria now returns home for a pair against the Kamloops Blazers on Tuesday and Wednesday.

-mm

The National Anthems at Seattle

Victoria Royals 6 at Seattle Thunderbirds 2 - Status: Final

Saturday, January 12, 2013 - ShoWare Center - Kent, WA

Victoria 3 1 2 - 6 

Seattle 0 2 0 - 2

1st Period-

1, Victoria, Carroll 9 (Gogolev, Fransoo), 8:01.

2, Victoria, Hodges 12 (Lofthouse), 10:31 (PP).

3, Victoria, Magee 17 (Gogolev, Cote), 19:28 (PP).

Penalties-Hicketts Vic (tripping), 0:22; Delnov Sea (slashing), 3:15; Foulk Sea (roughing), 8:58; Kanzig Vic (major-fighting), 10:42; Elliot Sea (major-fighting), 10:42; Theodore Sea (tripping), 18:28.

2nd Period-

4, Victoria, Crooks 19   6:27 (PP).

5, Seattle, Theodore 9 (Lockhart, Kambeitz), 10:17 (PP).

6, Seattle, Swenson 13 (Lockhart, Theodore), 15:24.

Penalties-Kambeitz Sea (slashing), 6:17; Crooks Vic (slashing), 9:08.

3rd Period-

7, Victoria, Crooks 20 (Hodges), 4:37.

8, Victoria, Crooks 21   18:58 (SH EN).

Penalties-Kambeitz Sea (roughing), 7:53; Carroll Vic (instigator, major-fighting, 10-minute misconduct), 10:26; Hauf Sea (major-fighting), 10:26; Hicketts Vic (delay of game), 18:14.

Shots on Goal-

Victoria 9-16-13-38.

Seattle 9-17-13-39.

Power Play Opportunities-

Victoria 3 / 5;

Seattle 1 / 4.

Goalies-Victoria, Polivka 17-10-1-2 (39 shots-37 saves). Seattle, Glover 15-18-2-1 (9 shots-6 saves); Mumaugh 0-3-0-0 (28 shots-26 saves).

A-4,012

Referees-Tyler Adair (58), Curtis Marouelli (86).

Linesmen-Zach Brooks (26), Ron Dietterle (121).