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| Jamie Crooks celebrates in a 4-1 win over the Thunderbirds Wed. Credit Jon Howe and Victoria Royals |
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| Ben Walker. Credit Jon Howe and Victoria Royals |
The Royals led 3-0 after 20 minutes and 4-1 after 40, while their power play scored twice to extend their franchise record home point streak to 12 games.
“Our guys like playing here, It’s a great building to play in. They always seem to play with lots of energy and we’ve been able to score goals early and play with the lead at home.” – Head Coach Dave Lowry
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| Credit Jon Howe and Victoria Royals |
Ben Walker had a 3 point night with a goal and two assists, while his brother Jack had a pair of helpers, Austin Carroll and goal and an assist. Crooks had his 4th multi goal game of the year as he pulls into a tie for the teams goal scoring lead with Brandon Magee with 26 markers.
“(Crooks) ability to get the pucks in the net is just unreal, he’s a phenomenal goal scorer and nobody can do it like him” - Royals Ben Walker
“You’re not going to teach that…” Lowry on Crooks 2nd goal of the game cutting in behind the defence and putting it top corner. It restored the 3 goal lead late in the 2nd period. Lowry on the importance of the snipe.
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| Polivka and Vollrath celebrate. Credit Jon Howe and Victoria Royals |
“...That was a goal our team needed…critical time to score a goal and that kind of took the wind out of their sails and for us gave us a little bit more energy.”
Patrik Polivka earned his 26th win of the season with 31 saves, while Brandon Glover played the first, allowing 3 goals on 11 shots, replaced by Danny Mumaugh at the start of the second allowing 1 goal on 19 shots.
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| Mitch Deacon on Mumaugh. Credit Jon Howe and Victoria Royals |
The club earned it’s 30th win of the year, and is just 3 wins away from tying the franchise record for most victories in a season.
Victoria was without their leading scorer Alex Gogolev who suffered a skate cut the previous night.
Lowry on their star player,
“Alex will be re evaluated in a few days…Yes, It would be nice to get him towards the end of the road trip, if not, we we move forward. He’s a huge part of our team but we’ve had a lot big pieces out for extended periods and guys have done a real good job of stepping up and accepting challenges.”
Now riding a 3 game win streak, the Royals head out onto the road for a 6 game in 10 night road swing beginning against Tri City Friday.
Lowry on the upcoming trek,
“For us the challenge will be that we have six tough buildings to go into and six really good teams. This is what we’ve been talking about and now we’re going to need success.”
-mm
Seattle Thunderbirds 1 at Victoria Royals 4 - Status: Final
Wednesday, February 6, 2013 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC
Seattle 0 1 0 - 1
Victoria 3 1 0 - 4
1st Period-
1, Victoria, Carroll 12 (Magee, Fushimi), 2:23 (PP).
2, Victoria, Walker 14 (Carroll, Walker), 11:01.
3, Victoria, Crooks 25 (Walker, Hicketts), 19:11 (PP).
Penalties-Hickman Sea (tripping), 1:19; Traber Vic (checking to the head), 8:14; Hicketts Vic (high sticking), 13:08; Sanvido Sea (tripping), 17:21.
2nd Period-
4, Seattle, Sanvido 13 (Lockhart, Theodore), 3:40.
5, Victoria, Crooks 26 (Walker, Walker), 17:03.
Penalties-Forsberg Sea (roughing), 1:04; Crooks Vic (roughing), 1:04; Carroll Vic (roughing), 4:38; Johnson Sea (tripping), 6:36; Cote Vic (holding), 13:04; Green Sea (roughing), 16:34; served by Fushimi Vic (too many men), 16:34.
3rd Period-
No Scoring.
Penalties-Johnson Sea (roughing), 7:04; Smith Sea (tripping), 17:33.
Shots on Goal-
Seattle 11-13-8-32.
Victoria 11-13-6-30.
Power Play Opportunities-
Seattle 0 / 4;
Victoria 2 / 5.
Goalies-
Seattle,
Glover 18-23-4-1 (11 shots-8 saves);
Mumaugh 0-5-0-0 (19 shots-18 saves).
Victoria, Polivka 26-11-1-2 (32 shots-31 saves).
A-4,509
Referees-Adam Griffiths (36), Sean Raphael (28).
Linesmen-Riley Friesen (76), Kirk Van Helvoirt (107).
