Recap: Kelowna 8 - Victoria 3

Jamie Crooks scored his 30th in an 8-3 loss to the Rockets Friday

By Marlon Martens, Photo Credit to Jon Howe and the Victoria Royals

Myles Bell had 4 points to lead to the visiting Kelowna Rockets past the Victoria Royals 8-3 Friday night in the first of back to back games.

Tied at 1-1 after 20 minutes, the Rockets took control with a 5 goal second period and a 6-1 lead after 40.

JT Barnett earned his 13th against Patrik Polivka

“We played against a very good hockey team, we have to remember that.  We’ve had a tough time with them this year.  I thought in the first period we did some of the things we wanted to according to our plan, then simple mistakes and the game basically got away from us.” - Enio Sacilotto, Royals Assistant Coach

The Royals who held the Rockets to just 4 shots against in the first, and none for the first 9 minutes of the game were outshot in the middle frame 19-5 and 34-25 overall as Jordon Cooke earned his 30th victory of the season.  Patrik Polivka allowed 6 goals on 23 shots after 40 minutes, while Coleman Vollrath allowed 2 on 11 in the third.

“It just seemed they had an extra step or two on us, and it’s unnacceptable for our team.  They’re coming off the road, with days travelled so we’ve got to come back tomorrow, ready to work.” – Joe Hicketts, Royals defenseman

14 different Kelowna players had points, Bell with 2 goals and 2 assists led the way.  Madison Bowey, Dylan McKinley, and Cody Fowlie had a goal and an assist each.  Rourke Chartier was 2nd star with 2 assists.

For Victoria, Ben Walker (17th), Jamie Crooks (30th) and Austin Carroll (14th) each had a goal and an assist to cut the lead to 6-3 in the third before running into penalty trouble.

“The only positive is, we get see these guys tomorrow and we get a shot at redemption within 24 hours.” – Dave Lowry, Royals Head Coach

Ben Walker (1g 1a), and Colton Sissons

A total of 174 penalty minutes were called, 100 to Victoria, with 2 fights in the game.  Joe Hicketts against Colten Martin in the 2nd period and Tim Traber defeating Colton Heffley in the 3rd.

The Rockets 2nd best power play proved lethal striking 3 times on 7 opportunities, as the Royals went 1 for 4.

It was the most goals Victoria has given up in a game all season, snapping their streak of 12 consecutive games with a  point on home ice.  It was the 4th consecutive loss to Kelowna, with the 8 game season series record now at (1-5).

The 6th place Royals are now winless in 5 games. (0-4-0-1) after posting a 5 game win streak.  They fall 3 back of the Chiefs and 4 behind the Americans, both of whom won Friday night.

The Rockets who are ranked 6th in the CHL, snapped their 2 game losing streak and remain 3 points ahead of the Blazers for 2nd in the Conference.

Victoria continues their 6 game homestand with a rematch against Kelowna Saturday, then Lethbridge Wednesday and a pair against Spokane next Friday and Saturday.

-Marlon Martens

Kelowna Rockets 8 at Victoria Royals 3 - Status: Final
Friday, February 22, 2013 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC

Kelowna 1 5 2 - 8
Victoria 1 0 2 - 3

1st Period-
1, Kelowna, Baillie 21 (Chartier), 12:20.
2, Victoria, Walker 17 (Magee, Crunk), 12:31.

Penalties-Lees Kel (delay of game), 5:10; Bell Kel (boarding), 15:43; Walker Vic (hooking), 17:57.

2nd Period-
3, Kelowna, Bowey 10 (Fowlie, Goulbourne), 3:42.
4, Kelowna, McKinlay 21 (Bell, Sissons), 13:39.
5, Kelowna, Barnett 13 (Bell), 15:33 (PP).
6, Kelowna, Olsen 31 (Franko, Martin), 16:48.
7, Kelowna, Bell 33 (Bowey, Chartier), 18:51.

Penalties-Johnston Kel (roughing), 14:41; Carroll Vic (checking to the head, roughing), 14:41; Goulbourne Kel (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 16:04; Kanzig Vic (roughing), 16:04; Martin Kel (major-fighting), 16:48; Olsen Kel (10-minute misconduct), 16:48; Severson Kel (10-minute misconduct), 16:48; Fransoo Vic (10-minute misconduct), 16:48; Hicketts Vic (major-fighting), 16:48; Hodges Vic (10-minute misconduct), 16:48; Magee Vic (slashing, 10-minute misconduct), 16:48.

3rd Period-
8, Victoria, Crooks 30 (Walker, Carroll), 2:59.
9, Victoria, Carroll 14 (Nelson, Crooks), 7:43 (PP).
10, Kelowna, Bell 34 (Severson), 9:42 (PP).
11, Kelowna, Fowlie 15 (McKinlay, Lees), 18:39 (PP).

Penalties-Dixon Vic (10-minute misconduct), 1:33; Heffley Kel (major-fighting, game misconduct), 1:43; Traber Vic (major-fighting, game misconduct), 1:43; Lees Kel (closing hand on puck), 5:07; Sissons Kel (holding), 6:12; Carroll Vic (inter. on goaltender), 8:26; Dixon Vic (closing hand on puck), 14:04; Dixon Vic (checking to the head), 16:13; Baillie Kel (10-minute misconduct), 18:27; Bowey Kel (roughing, 10-minute misconduct), 18:27; Dixon Vic (checking from behind, game misconduct), 18:27; Kanzig Vic (roughing, 10-minute misconduct), 18:27.

Shots on Goal-
Kelowna 4-19-11-34.
Victoria 7-5-13-25.

Power Play Opportunities-
Kelowna 3 / 7;
Victoria 1 / 4.

Goalies-
Kelowna, Cooke 30-13-2-1 (25 shots-22 saves).
Victoria, Polivka 28-13-1-3 (23 shots-17 saves); Vollrath 2-8-0-1 (11 shots-9 saves).

A-5,517
Referees-Jeff Ingram (82), Brett Iverson (24).
Linesmen-Ron Dietterle (121), Ryan Gibbons (73).