Recap: Victoria 5 - Spokane 3

Jamie Crooks had 2 goals in a 5-3 Royals victory over the Chiefs Sunday night.

Jamie Crooks scored twice, and Austin Carroll had 3 points give the Victoria Royals (32-19-1-3, 68pts) a 5-3 road victory over the Spokane Chiefs (32-22-2-0, 66pts) Sunday night.

Carroll vs Proft

“I really liked our start, we took advantage of a team that played 3 in 3 and we were able to push the pace and play at a high pace - and that suited us…” – Royals Head Coach Dave Lowry

The win gives the Royals sole possession of 4th place in the West, 2 up on the Chiefs with a game in hand and 3 ahead of the idle Americans.  They’ll meet twice more in Victoria, March 1st and 2nd with the series tied at a game a piece.

“It feels nice to get one on the road in a real important game, it’s nice to sit alone in 4th now, but it’s just a start now and we’ve got to keep winning to secure a spot there.” – Royals Forward Jamie Crooks

Jamie Crooks would score his first of two

The franchise had not won in Spokane since March 30th 2011, 4-3 in overtime during the playoffs as the Chilliwack Bruins.

Royals Assistant Coach Enio Sacilotto remembers the game,

“Kevin Sunder got the winner that night, that was the last victory here…it’s good to get a win in here.”

The Royals held period leads of 2-1 and 4-1 while and outshooting Spokane 28-20 enroute to their 5th win in a row.

Sacilotto credited the good start and special teams goals to the win,

“We got the early lead and never looked back, and in the 2nd period we got a short handed goal which was huge, and a power play goal that gave us the 4-1 lead which put us well on the way to the victory.”

Patrik Polivka made 17 saves for his 28th win of the season.  Eric Williams played the first 2 periods allowing 4 goals on 18 shots and took the loss.  Rookie netminder Garrett Hughson stopped 9 of 10 in relief.

The Royals shut down both Chiefs power plays while scoring once on five man advantages.

Victoria jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first on goals by Jamie Crooks and Jack Walker.  Dylan Walkchuk scored a short handed goal to cut the lead in half before the period was out. 

Jack Walker scored his 4th, and 3rd star honours

The Royals scored the only two goals of the second period, Jamie Crooks shorthanded and Ben Walker on the power play.

“…credit to the guys in the second period, we got the short handed goal and the power play goal and that was the difference in the game for us.” – Dave Lowry

Mitch Holberg cut the lead in half to 4-2 in the third before Austin Carroll on a great individual effort scored to regain the 3 goal lead.  Adam Power scored his 1st WHL goal to round out the scoring for the Chiefs.  Spokane would pull their goaltender late, but took a costly penalty in the final minute to seal their fate.

Poklivka earned his 28th win of the year

Crooks two markers puts him into a tie for the team lead in goals with 28 with Brandon Magee.  Austin Carroll had the Gordie Howe Hat Trick with a goal and two assists plus a fight against Carter Proft.  Ben Walker extends his point streak to 4 games and 9 points (3g 6a) with a goal and an assist.

J.Walker, Carroll, Crooks, the Stars

It was Victoria’s 32nd victory of the year and are now just 1 win and 6 points back from the franchise’s most successful season (33-31-4-4, 74pts) in 09-10.

The Royals have outscored the opposition 20-9 in their 5 game winning streak.   It’s the 2nd time in team history that the club has won 5 consecutive.

Captain Tyler Stahl returned to the line up after serving an 8 game suspension.

Traber and Polivka

Victoria is still without Alex Gogolev (Lower, Undetermined), Logan Nelson (Lower, 2 weeks) and Luke Harrison (Upper, Indefinite), and Trent Lofthouse (Upper).

Now with 2 wins into the 6 game in 10 night road trip, it continues with stops at Kootenay Wednesday, Red Deer Friday, Calgary Saturday and Edmonton Sunday.

- Marlon Martens

Starting Line Up during National Anthems

Victoria Royals 5 at Spokane Chiefs 3 - Status: Final
Sunday, February 10, 2013 - Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena

Victoria 2 2 1 - 5
Spokane 1 0 2 - 3

1st Period-
1, Victoria, Crooks 27 (Walker, Carroll), 2:09.
2, Victoria, Walker 4 (Fushimi, Hodges), 7:08.
3, Spokane, Walchuk 15 (Fiddler, McIntosh), 18:01 (SH).

Penalties-Stahl Vic (interference), 3:11; Stewart Spo (high sticking), 15:19; Stewart Spo (high sticking), 17:19.

2nd Period-
4, Victoria, Crooks 28   5:15 (SH).
5, Victoria, Walker 16 (Carroll, Fransoo), 13:50 (PP).

Penalties-Walker Vic (holding), 3:31; Carroll Vic (major-fighting), 8:04; Proft Spo (major-fighting), 8:04; Holmberg Spo (tripping), 13:40.

3rd Period-
6, Spokane, Holmberg 33 (Gal, Aviani), 3:21.
7, Victoria, Carroll 13   7:40. 8, Spokane, Power 1 (Playfair, Coyle), 9:59.

Penalties-Whittingham Spo (high sticking), 11:52; Aviani Spo (tripping), 19:34.

Shots on Goal-
Victoria 9-9-10-28.
Spokane 4-5-11-20.

Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 1 / 5;
Spokane 0 / 2.

Goalies-
Victoria,
Polivka 28-11-1-2 (20 shots-17 saves).

Spokane,
Williams 26-16-2-0 (18 shots-14 saves);
Hughson 5-5-0-0 (10 shots-9 saves).

A-5,045
Referees-Jeff Ingram (82), Jason Cramer (57).
Linesmen-Anthony Guzzo (135), Jason Michelbook (112).