Recap: VIC 5 - PA 4

Travis Brown tied the game in the third at 4 enroute to a 5-4 win in Prince Albert.  Credit Larry Quigley

Jack Walker scored the eventual game winner and Brandon Magee had 3 assists as the visiting Victoria Royals (40-16-1-3, 84pts) edged the Prince Albert Raiders 5-4 Saturday night.

It was a back and forth encouter, tied at 1 after 20 minutes and tied at 3 after 40.  Former Royal Dakota Conroy put the Raiders ahead in the third, but Travis Brown tied it up on the power play and Joe Hicketts point shot was redirected by Jack Walker for the eventual winner. 

Steven Hodges tied the game at 2

“It just exemplifies how we play, we’ve got a group that really believes in each other and when we did squander and give up that one (go ahead) goal, our guys just buckled down and stayed with it, we got a timely power play goal, we had a huge (penalty) kill…” – Head Coach Dave Lowry

Victoria had to kill off a late Prince Albert power play, which has been among the leagues best over their last 4 games going 2 for 4 on the night.

“…When you see guys blocking shots when the games on the line, it just shows you that everyone really is enjoying winning hockey games.” Said Lowry

Brandon Magee had 3 assists

The club continues to set franchise records in wins with 40, points in 12 consecutive games (10-0-1-1), points (84), and road victories with 20 (20-6-0-1).  Victoria has won 5 in a row, and 7 straight on the road.

Coleman Vollrath earned his 20th win stopping 22 of 26 shots, while Cole Cheveldave allowed 5 goals on 35 Royals attempts.

Royals Blomqvist and Carroll shake hands after a come from behind 5-4 win against Raiders

The young line of Jack Walker, Tyler Soy and Jack Palmer dominated several of their shifts and chipped in with the game winner.

“That’s great to see, and that’s why we win hockey games...we’re not a hockey team that relies on one or two guys to lead the offense.” According to Lowry,

“When your fourth line and your young guys score goals, that’s critical.  That shows you two things.  We have confidence in our group, that it doesn’t matter what time of the game our young guys are going to play, and that they can do a really efficient job for us as well.”

Victoria was 1 for 3 on the power play, scoring with the man advantage in 8 of their last 9 games.

Magee was the games first star with 3 assists, as his line with Axel Blomqvist (2a) and Steven Hodges (1g) combined for 6 points.  Defenseman Joe Hicketts had two assists and his defensive partner Travis Brown had a goal and assist.

Austin Carroll scored his team leading 29th in the first converting on a feed from Logan Nelson who earned his 150th career point.    Carroll’s goal evened the score at 1-1, after Winnipeg Jets first rounder Josh Morrisey opened the scoring on the power play, his 21st.

Sawyer Lange converted with the man advantage in the second to retake the lead before Steven Hodges notched his 18th of the year after being set up Blomqvist from behind the net.  Ben Walker scored his 50th career WHL goal to give the Royals their first lead in the middle frame, but Calder Brooks tied it up at 3 heading into the third.

Crunk fought Braid: Credit Quigley

Victoria then outshot P.A. 15-7 in the final frame.

“We’ve been in this position before (tied heading to the third), we’re comfortable in our conditioning.  We know that when the game is on the line in the third period, we have another gear.”  Said Lowry

Top prospect forward Leon Draisaitl extended his point streak to 5 games with 3 helpers and was named the 2nd star, while linemate Collin Valcourt was 3rd, also with 3 assists.

Victoria plays Monday at noon pacific in Moose Jaw, then off to Brandon, Regina and Saskatoon before travelling back to the Island.  Then they’ll play a pair in Prince George before their next home date March 7th and 8th against Kamloops. 

- Marlon Martens

Victoria Royals 5 at Prince Albert Raiders 4 - Status: Final
Saturday, February 15, 2014 - Art Hauser Centre - Prince Albert, SK

Victoria 1 2 2 - 5
Prince Albert 1 2 1 - 4

1st Period-
1, Prince Albert, Morrissey 21 (Draisaitl, Valcourt), 6:56 (PP).
2, Victoria, Carroll 29 (Nelson, Brown), 17:52.

Penalties-Walker Vic (hooking), 5:05; Walker Vic (tripping), 11:25.

2nd Period-
3, Prince Albert, Lange 7 (Draisaitl, Valcourt), 10:40 (PP).
4, Victoria, Hodges 18 (Magee, Blomqvist), 12:02.
5, Victoria, Walker 23 (Blomqvist, Magee), 13:59.
6, Prince Albert, Brooks 12 (Hart, Gardiner), 15:05.

Penalties-Crunk Vic (major-fighting), 0:08; Braid P.a (major-fighting), 0:08; Brown Vic (cross checking), 10:11; Hart P.a (elbowing), 18:23.

3rd Period-
7, Prince Albert, Conroy 22 (Draisaitl, Valcourt), 5:21.
8, Victoria, Brown 12 (Magee, Hicketts), 9:49 (PP).
9, Victoria, Walker 5 (Palmer, Soy), 14:54.

Penalties-Morrissey P.a (tripping), 9:02; Craig P.a (high sticking), 10:55; Cote Vic (charging), 17:26.

Shots on Goal-
Victoria 11-9-15-35.
Prince Albert 9-10-7-26.

Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 1 / 3;
Prince Albert 2 / 4.

Goalies-
Victoria, Vollrath 20-5-1-1 (26 shots-22 saves).
Prince Albert, Cheveldave 21-21-2-1 (35 shots-30 saves).

A-2,454
Referees-Jonathan Spurgeon (7), Chad Williams (60).
Linesmen-Javan Bexson (130), Troy Semenchuk (65).