Recap: VIC 4 - MJ 3 Shoot Out

Jack Walker scored the shoot out winner 4-3 in Moose Jaw

Jack Walker scored the shoot out winner and Patrik Polivka made 31 saves as the visiting Victoria Royals (41-16-1-3, 86pts) came from behind to beat the Moose Jaw Warriors 4-3 Monday afternoon.

The Royals win!

“Early on in the third we started pushing pucks in behind their defense, we started taking pucks to the net and started creating some chances and we end up finding a way to win a hockey game.” – Head Coach Dave Lowry

Defenseman Travis Brown was the games first star with a pair of assists in his first and only visit against his former club.

“It was a little weird, but it felt good getting the two points…I was honoured to be back in Moose Jaw and play in front of those fans again, and it felt really good.” Said Brown

Axel Blomqvist scores on the power play

Trailing 2-1 heading into the third, Victoria scored twice on goals by Austin Carroll (30th) and Axel Blomqvist (21st) on the power play to take their first lead.  

Moose Jaw’s Jake Rodewald forced overtime with 4 minutes left, and then needed the skills competition to settle the contest.

Patrik Polivka stopped both Brayden Point and Torrin White, while the Royals Logan Nelson and Walker both found the net on 16 year old Zach Sawchenko.

“Usually Jack (Walker) is a guy who’s pretty comfortable, so that’s why we went with him.” Said Lowry on choosing Jack to shoot second, as he improves to 4 for 6 in the skills competition, and now has 3 shoot out winners.

“Big win here, a lot of fun scoring that shoot out winner and now just focus on the next game ahead.” Said Walker on the victory.

Polivka stopped both Warriors in the shoot out

Polivka earned his 21st win, while Sawchenko made 29 saves in the loss.

“He made a lot of really good 2nd and 3rd saves and (Polivka) battled hard, it’s his first game in a while.” According Lowry,

“He went in and did exactly what we expect - give us an opportunity to win.”

Royals defenseman Joe Hicketts had a goal and assist, as his first period marker was sandwiched between goals by Warriors Tanner Eberle and Jesse Forsberg.

Hicketts hit the top corner with a shot from the point for his 6th of the year in just his 25th game.

Warriors forward Brayden Point who won a Gold Medal with Hicketts at the U18 this past summer, had 3 assists as the 17 year old continues to lead his club in scoring with 66 points.  His linemate Torrin White had 2 helpers.

Victoria was 1 for 5 on the power play, and Moose Jaw 0 for 3.

Time Out

It was the Royals first victory over the Warriors since moving to the Island, the last win was in 2007.  The team earned their 5th victory of the year when trailing after 40 minutes (5-16-0-1).

The club continues to set franchise records, including 41 wins and 86 points, collecting points in 13 straight games (11-0-1-1), consecutive road wins with 8, and total road victories with 21 (21-6-0-1). 

Victoria now has won 6 in a row and are 2-0 on their 5 game eastern road swing after a 5-4 win in Prince Albert Saturday, where Jack Walker also scored the game winner.

They now face the Brandon Wheat Kings Wednesday night, at Regina Friday and Saskatoon Saturday.

-Marlon Martens

Victoria Royals 4 (SO) at Moose Jaw Warriors 3 - Status: Final SO
Monday, February 17, 2014 - Mosaic Place - Moose Jaw, SK

Victoria 1 0 2 0 - 4
Moose Jaw 2 0 1 0 - 3

1st Period-
1, Moose Jaw, Eberle 15 (Point, White), 3:01.
2, Victoria, Hicketts 6 (Brown, Crunk), 11:18.
3, Moose Jaw, Forsberg 5 (Point, White), 19:10.

Penalties-Eberle M.j (roughing), 0:37; Skapski Vic (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 4:02; Rodewald M.j (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 4:02; Fisher Vic (cross checking), 7:37; Reddekopp Vic (hooking), 14:23.

2nd Period-
 No Scoring.

Penalties-Cooke M.j (slashing), 5:15; Sleptsov M.j (delay of game), 10:15; Skapski Vic (high sticking), 12:40; Hicketts Vic (embellishment), 15:21; Uhrich M.j (holding), 15:21.

3rd Period-
4, Victoria, Carroll 30 (Hicketts, Brown), 3:03.
5, Victoria, Blomqvist 21 (Nelson, Walker), 8:23 (PP).
6, Moose Jaw, Rodewald 20 (Point, Forsberg), 15:58.

Penalties-Brown M.j (inter. on goaltender), 8:21.

OT Period-
No Scoring.

Penalties-Forsberg M.j (hooking), 1:08.

Shootout –
Victoria 2 (Nelson G, Walker G),
Moose Jaw 0 (Point NG, White NG).

Shots on Goal-
Victoria 9-12-6-5-1-33.
Moose Jaw 12-7-8-7-0-34.

Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 1 / 5;
Moose Jaw 0 / 3.

Goalies-
Victoria, Polivka 21-11-0-2 (34 shots-31 saves).
Moose Jaw, Sawchenko 6-8-0-1 (32 shots-29 saves).

A-3,677
Referees-Cole Hamm (51), Chris Schlenker (90).
Linesmen-Shane Smith (123), Dawson Switzer (97).