“Great feeling right now, really good to get this win for the boys and two goals for myself. Good to show those guys over there – it was fun.” Said Blomqvist.
Victoria broke a 2-2 third period tie with a pair of goals :37 seconds apart by Tyler Soy and Blomqvist.
The Royals had built up a 2-0 lead on goals by Blomqvist in the first, and Jack Walker with the man advantage in the second. The Hurricanes used a pair of power play goals to draw even in the middle frame, the second during a full two minute 5 on 3.
“Liked our first period, liked our third, didn’t like our second. When we get drawn into the after whistle game, we’re not a very good team. We were in control of the hockey game and we gave them life and a reason to continue to play.” Said Head Coach Dave Lowry,
“We have to get back to the mentality that when you have a two goal lead you’re looking for that third goal, you’re not looking for an opportunity to let these guys back into the game.”
Victoria went 1 for 4 with the man advantage, while Lethbridge was 2 for 5 in a game that had 4 fights and a total of 120 penalty minutes combined.
“I liked the emotion in the game but I don’t like the reason why the fights were happening…I like when the game is being played and there is an altercation or is a fight, it is result of a play on the ice.” Said Lowry
Walker and Soy had a goal and an assist each, while Hicketts, who was named to the roster of Team WHL Thursday, was the first star with a pair of helpers.
Giorgio Estephan and Tyler Wong got the singles for the Canes who fall to (1-6-0-1) and are now winless in 5.
Netminder Coleman Vollrath made 20 saves for the win, while Zac Robidoux allowed 4 goals on 33 shots.
Victoria did not all a shot against for the first 12 minutes of the game.
“We wanted to make sure we got through the first period and not spot a team 2, 3 goals.” Said Lowry, who’s club had given up the first goal in all four games of the road trip.
“Tonight I thought our guys did a really good job of managing the ice well, got in shooting lanes, and made it tough to get to our net.”
Ryan Gagnon was very physical, throwing three large hits, including dumping former Royals Zane Jones into Victoria’s bench.
Austin Carroll had his 9 game point and 8 game goal streak snapped.
Victoria improves (5-6-1-0) on the season and 3-2 on their Central Division road trip which started with a 3-2 win in Calgary, 8-2 loss in Medicine Hat, 6-5 overtime win at Red Deer, and 3-2 loss in Edmonton.
Not dressed was defenseman Marsel Ibragimov, forward Matthew Campese and Brandon Magee who served the final of his 12 game suspension.
The Royals wrap up 6 in 9, with the final of a 4 game in 5 night stretch Saturday against the Ice in Cranbrook.
“We’re going to build off the emotion that should be in the building with Magee coming back for our hockey club, and that’s something that moving forward is probably going to help us.”
- Marlon Martens
Victoria Royals 4 at Lethbridge Hurricanes 2 - Status: Final
Friday, October 17, 2014 - Enmax Centre - Lethbridge, AB
Victoria 1 1 2 - 4
Lethbridge 0 2 0 - 2
1st Period-
1, Victoria, Blomqvist 2 (Fushimi, Jarratt), 19:00.
Penalties-Jensen Let (roughing), 3:19; Crunk Vic (major-fighting), 9:27; Folk Let (major-fighting), 9:27; Brown Vic (holding), 11:09.
2nd Period-
2, Victoria, Walker 5 (Soy, Hicketts), 3:59 (PP).
3, Lethbridge, Estephan 1 (Milekhin, Cooper), 11:23 (PP).
4, Lethbridge, Wong 1 (Sayers, Nielsen), 16:06 (PP).
Penalties-Amson Let (high sticking), 3:10; Dmytriw Vic (major-fighting, game-second fight), 4:33; Fisher Vic (major-fighting), 4:33; Nielsen Let (major-fighting), 4:33; Sheen Let (major-fighting, game-second fight), 4:33; Carroll Vic (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 6:51; Walker Vic (major-fighting), 6:51; Jensen Let (major-fighting), 6:51; Kitt Let (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 6:51; Crunk Vic (interference), 10:01; Blomqvist Vic (slashing), 15:07; Carroll Vic (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 15:07; Gagnon Vic (roughing), 19:00; Foulk Let (roughing, 10-minute misconduct), 19:00; Wong Let (elbowing), 19:00.
3rd Period-
5, Victoria, Soy 4 (Hicketts, Walker), 6:39.
6, Victoria, Blomqvist 3 7:16.
Penalties-Cooper Let (checking from behind), 2:06; Kanzig Vic (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 5:03; Kitt Let (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 5:03; Fisher Vic (hooking), 10:41.
Shots on Goal-
Victoria 13-12-8-33.
Lethbridge 5-10-7-22.
Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 1 / 4;
Lethbridge 2 / 5.
Goalies-
Victoria, Vollrath 4-5-1-0 (22 shots-20 saves).
Lethbridge, Robidoux 0-4-0-0 (33 shots-29 saves).
A-2,726
Referees-Matt Cassidy (93), Jason Cramer (57).
Linesmen-Aidan Henderson (78), Jared Mackey (52).
