Wednesday 20 November 2013

Recap: VIC 4 - KEL 1

The visiting Victoria Royals (15-10-0-1, 31pts) scored 3 third period goals to beat Kelowna 4-1 Wednesday night, snapping the Rockets 9 game win streak.

“We got real solid goaltending, I liked our penalty kill, and power play scored a couple goals.  It was a real good team effort and a lot guys sacrificed and paid the price to win.” – Head Coach Dave Lowry
The Royals celebrate a power play goal
The Royals won both games on their 2 game BC Division road swing with a 2-1 win against the Blazers the night before.

Victoria takes sole possession of 5th in the West with 31 points, one more that idle Tri City and now just 2 back of Spokane.

Polivka star #1
Patrik Polivka (10-8) earned first star honours with a 26 save performance, after 42 saves the night before.  Jordon Cooke suffered his first regulation loss in 15 games this season (12-1-0-2) allowing 4 goals on 19 shots.

Victoria has now set the franchise record for consecutive road wins with 5, and improve to 8-3 away from home. 

Kelowna  (16-3-0-2, 34 pts) who’s ranked 3rd in the CHL, fell at home for just a second time in regulation, and second loss at home to the Royals.  Victoria is now 2-1-0-1 in the eight game season series.

Goal celebration
Tyler Soy (6th) opened the scoring for a second straight night on the first shot of the game. 

Tyson Baillie tied it up in the second as the Rockets outshot the Royals 24-8 after 40 minutes.  Victoria came out strong in the third, getting 3 unanswered goals.  Austin Carroll (11th) on the power play, Ben Walker (6th) and Brandon Fushimi (9th), also with the man advantage.

“…We weathered the storm for a period and half, and our goaltending was real good and then in the third period got some timely goal scoring.” Said Lowry

The Royals outshot the Rockets in the final frame 11-3.

“We killed off two 5 on 3's which really gave us the push we needed, we got a lot of energy from that and when guys are going all out to block shots it really just get’s the boys all fired up.”  Said Tyler Soy, “We knew we had to play hard and do the little things right to win the last period and that’s what we went out and did.”
Victoria buzzing around Cooke in the third

Victoria scored 2 power play goals on 5 opportunities while stopping all 5 Kelowna man advantages including a pair of 5 on 3 chances.

“Special teams were real good tonight, it was nice on the power play to get a couple goals, those are some important goals." said Ben Walker "And on the PK we had some really nice kills, and ultimately special teams won us the game tonight.”

The Royals improve to 11-0 when scoring the first goal of the game.

“Confidence is a big thing for this club,” said Austin Carroll, “…once we get that first goal, we end up winning, we get on a roll and it feels good.”
Celebrating the win in Kelowna
Victoria’s Head Equipment Manager Matt Auerbach reached a milestone of 600 games.

Riding a 2 game win streak the Royals return home to face Luke Harrison and the Blazers for a pair of games Friday and Saturday.  Victoria is expected to dress newcomer Axel Blomqvist.

- Marlon Martens

Victoria Royals 4 at Kelowna Rockets 1 - Status: Final
Wednesday, November 20, 2013 - Prospera Place - Kelowna, BC

Victoria 1 0 3 - 4
Kelowna 0 1 0 - 1

1st Period-
1, Victoria, Soy 6 (Skapski), 2:58.

Penalties-Nelson Vic (inter. on goaltender), 3:33; Cote Vic (delay of game), 4:45; Hodges Vic (roughing), 13:45; Goulbourne Kel (roughing), 13:45.

2nd Period-
2, Kelowna, Baillie 10 (Olsen, Franko), 5:47.

Penalties-Fisher Vic (hooking), 1:57; Severson Kel (holding), 9:28; Reddekopp Vic (hooking), 10:53; Magee Vic (inter. on goaltender), 11:24; served by Franko Kel (too many men), 18:26.

3rd Period-
3, Victoria, Carroll 11 (Nelson, Cote), 6:44 (PP).
4, Victoria, Walker 6   12:09. 5, Victoria, Fushimi 9 (Magee), 15:01 (PP).

Penalties-served by Franko Kel (too many men), 4:42; Stadel Kel (cross checking), 6:17; Baillie Kel (tripping), 14:19; Kel (game - coach), 15:01.

Shots on Goal-
Victoria 4-4-11-19.
Kelowna 9-15-3-27.

Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 2 / 5;
Kelowna 0 / 5.

Goalies-
Victoria, Polivka 10-8-0-0 (27 shots-26 saves).
Kelowna, Cooke 12-1-0-2 (19 shots-15 saves).

A-4,875
Referees-Jeff Ingram (82), Brett Iverson (24).
Linesmen-Ryan Gibbons (73), Bevan Mills (98).