Recap: VIC 7 - KAM 2

Steven Hodges scores in a 7-2 victory over the Blazers. Credit Larry Quigley

Tyler Soy had 3 points and Jack Walker a pair of goals as the visiting Victoria Royals (32-16-0-2, 66pts) beat the Kamloops Blazers 7-2 Friday.

“I didn’t think we were at the top of our game early, but we got some key goals…scoring a late goal with seconds left (in the first) and then it was all over.” – Assistant Coach Enio Sacilotto

The Royals take a 4-1 season series lead by winning the last 4, and it’s their third consecutive victory over the 10th place Blazers (11-31-2-3, 27pts) by a 5 goal margin in each of those contests.

Victoria held period leads of 4-2 and 7-2, with no scoring in the final frame as the Royals outshot the Blazers 42-22 on the night. 

#14 Jack Walker scored twice

“We got a couple goals on them and then we kept pressing and pressing, we didn’t back down at all, our consistency throughout the game was really good.” – Royals Forward Tyler Soy

Kamloops Josh Connolly opened the scoring on the power play, but Victoria replied with 3 straight.  Austin Carroll scored top corner for his 22nd, followed by Jack Walker’s 3rd depositing a rebound.  Steven Hodges picked the top corner for his 12th to go up 3-1.

The Blazers Chase Souto converted on a 2 on 1 to close the gap to 3-2 before Logan Fisher scored with a shot from the corner that eluded Pouliot with 2.7 seconds left, restoring the two goal lead after 20 minutes.

Kehler was beaten 3 times in the 2nd period. Credit Quigley

The Royals added 3 more in the second period as Brandon Magee smacked home a cross ice feed from Alex Blomqvist for his 17th.  Tyler Soy fired home his 10th on the power play from the slot, before Jack Walker one timed a pass from Soy past Cole Kehler who turned it over behind the net.

Netminder Coleman Vollrath stopped 20 shots for his 13th win, while Bolton Pouliot was relieved after the first 20 minutes as he allowed 4 goals on 14 Royals shots.  16 year old call up from the OHA Cole Kehler in just his second WHL game came in relief and allowed 3 goals on 28 shots.

The Royals congratulate netminder Coleman Vollrath

Brandon Magee and Steven Hodges had a goal and assist each as their line with Blomqvist combined for 5 points.  Jack Walker with Tyler Soy and Jack Palmer also combined for 5 points.

Tyler Soy was the number one star, followed by Jack Walker and Brandon Magee.

Victoria remains 3rd in the West, pulling 3 points ahead of Seattle who had their 7 game win streak snapped in Tri City.

The Royals went 1 for 5 on the power play while the Blazers went 1 for 3.

Riding a 2 game win streak, Victoria wraps up their 2 game BC Division road swing in Vancouver Saturday night.

-Marlon Martens

Victoria Royals 7 at Kamloops Blazers 2 - Status: Final
Friday, January 24, 2014 - Interior Savings Centre - Kamloops, BC

Victoria 4 3 0 - 7
Kamloops 2 0 0 - 2

1st Period-
1, Kamloops, Connolly 10 (Ness, Kornelsen), 6:19 (PP).
2, Victoria, Carroll 22 (Walker, Nelson), 7:56.
3, Victoria, Walker 3 (Magee, Soy), 11:20.
4, Victoria, Hodges 12   14:12.
5, Kamloops, Souto 19 (Shirley, Grist), 15:17.
6, Victoria, Fisher 3 (Crunk), 19:57.

Penalties-Kanzig Vic (hooking), 5:21; Grist Kam (interference), 17:19.

2nd Period-
7, Victoria, Magee 17 (Blomqvist, Hodges), 4:28.
8, Victoria, Soy 10   10:06 (PP).
9, Victoria, Walker 4 (Soy), 15:09.

Penalties-Rehill Kam (interference), 0:09; Chyzowski Kam (hooking), 7:08; Bolduc Kam (interference), 9:47; Cote Vic (tripping), 16:28.

3rd Period-
No Scoring.

Penalties-Carroll Vic (interference), 0:56; Revel Kam (tripping), 7:05.

Shots on Goal-
Victoria 14-14-14-42.
Kamloops 8-11-3-22.

Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 1 / 5;
Kamloops 1 / 3.

Goalies-
Victoria, Vollrath 13-5-0-1 (22 shots-20 saves).
Kamloops, Pouliot 6-12-0-2 (14 shots-10 saves); Kehler 0-1-0-0 (28 shots-25 saves).

A-4,027
Referees-Ryan Benbow (62), Sean Raphael (28).
Linesmen-Ron Dietterle (121), Spencer Lockert (84).