Recap: VIC 3 - KAM 1

Taylor Crunk makes it 3-1 Royals

Coleman Vollrath made 36 saves, and Tyler Soy’s shorthanded goal stood as the winner as the visiting Victoria Royals beat the Kamloops Blazers 3-1 Friday night.

The Royals set the franchise record for wins in a season with 36, and road victories with 17.  It was the clubs 200th game.

“It’s a great accomplishment for our guys and group.  Obviously you’d like it to be a lot prettier, but a win is a win.  Sometimes good teams find a way when they don’t play their best game…” – Head Coach Dave Lowry

Coleman Vollrath made 36 saves

Victoria runs their point streak to 8 games (6-0-1-1), and remain 3rd in the West with a  one point lead on Seattle.  The Royals are now 5-1 against the Blazers in the season series.

“It’s nice to get the win, I don’t think our team played the way I think we can and should but it’s obviously nice to squeak out a win here in Kamloops - and get that franchise record for wins.” – Brandon Magee

After Kamloops defenseman Ryan Rehill scored on the power play in the second to open the scoring, Brandon Magee scored his 20th of the season with :32 seconds left in the middle frame.

Magee scores to tie the game.

“Once we got one, we knew we were in the game…It gave us a momentum shift with a goal like that at the end of the power play…it was huge and getting the boys into it.” said Magee

Royals rookie Tyler Soy (11th) scored on a 2 on 1 short handed just 1:32 into the third to take their first lead of the game. 

“The defenseman gave me a pretty good lane to the net, so I took it and slid it home five-hole.”  - Tyler Soy on his eventual game winning goal.

Taylor Crunk batted a Logan Fisher puck out of the air in the crease for his 6th to provide some insurance in the 3-1 win.

“After we scored those last two goal we took the life out of them and didn’t give them any opportunities to gain momentum and shut them down from there.” said Soy.

Victoria was outshot 37-29, their power play went 0 for 3 while Kamloops was 1 for 4.

A 'Welcome Home Joe Hicketts' sign next to Vollrath

The Royals put their 4 game road winning streak on the line against the Rockets in Kelowna Saturday, followed by a 2pm matinee in Vancouver Holiday Monday.

-Marlon Martens

Victoria Royals 3 at Kamloops Blazers 1 - Status: Final
Friday, February 7, 2014 - Interior Savings Centre - Kamloops, BC

Victoria 0 1 2 - 3
Kamloops 0 1 0 - 1

1st Period-
No Scoring.

Penalties-Hicketts Vic (high sticking), 13:26; Kornelsen Kam (cross checking), 19:43.

2nd Period-
1, Kamloops, Rehill 3   3:45 (PP).
2, Victoria, Magee 20 (Brown), 19:28.

Penalties-served by Soy Vic (too many men), 1:55; Reagan Kam (tripping), 17:18.

3rd Period-
3, Victoria, Soy 11 (Kanzig), 1:29 (SH).
4, Victoria, Crunk 6 (Fisher, Skapski), 12:51.

Penalties-Brown Vic (high sticking), 0:33; Bolduc Kam (hooking), 1:49; Walker Vic (high sticking), 3:29.

Shots on Goal-
Victoria 5-15-9-29.
Kamloops 4-17-16-37.

Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 0 / 3;
Kamloops 1 / 4.

Goalies-
Victoria, Vollrath 16-5-1-1 (37 shots-36 saves).
Kamloops, Pouliot 6-18-0-2 (29 shots-26 saves).

A-3,825
Referees-Mike Langin (67), Nick Swaine (35).
Linesmen-Nick Bilko (66), Ron Dietterle (121).