“There’s a lot of things I thought we could probably do better…” said Head Coach Dave Lowry, who’s club takes sole possession of 4th in the West,
“I like the power play (2/6), and I like the fact that we found a way to win a hockey game.”
The Royals used a pair of goals :33 seconds apart in the middle frame, to take their first two goal lead, and cap off 3 in a row, while overcoming a 3-2 deficit. They outshot the Giants 14-7 in the second period.
Victoria was successful on the power play, going 2 for 6, while holding Vancouver to just 2 chances, scoring once with the man advantage.
“I liked it…” said Lowry on the discipline of the club, “…for the amount of time we spent in our own zone (in the third) we didn’t take a penalty, and that was critical…”
After the Royals opened the scoring, the game was tied at 2 after 20 minutes. Victoria took a 5-4 lead to the third, and used an empty netter from Brandon Fushimi for insurance.
Victoria has now won three in a row against Vancouver, and take a 3-2 season series lead, winning at the Pacific Coliseum for the first time this year after dropping a pair in September.
“Overall I thought we had a great road win, and sometimes you have to grease some wins out.” said defenseman Joe Hicketts.
Coleman Vollrath earned his 10th victory (10-8-2-0), while Cody Porter was pulled after the 4th Royals goal, on 17 shots. Payton Lee in relief stopped 7 of 9.
Royals 17 year old forward Regan Nagy fought 19 year old Oilers draft pick, Jackson Houck, after a hit on Hicketts in the first.
Hicketts now leads all defenseman in scoring with 28 points, two more than the Rockets Madison Bowey. Hicketts is now tied for 4th in league scoring.
“It’s a tribute to our whole team…” said Hicketts on his rearguard scoring lead,
“I’ve been getting lucky getting the puck to our (scorers), and they’ve been making some good plays…I’m happy to help out anyway I can, but more importantly, we’re starting to get wins now.”
Carroll is 8th with 27 points, tied for 3rd in goals with 14. He leads the league in power play markers with 8, while Travis Brown is tied for 2nd with 7.
Axel Blomqvist opened the scoring, his first of two on the night. Vancouver responded with a pair by Alec Baer and Joel Hamilton before Austin Carroll notched his league leading 8th power play goal to draw even at 2, after 2.
Jackson Houck regained the lead for the Giants in the 2nd, before Travis Brown tied it with a one timer blast, his 7th on the power play. Blomqvist added his 9th, converting on a 2 on 1 with Magee, before Regan Nagy scored on the Royals first shot on Peyton Lee.
Hamilton scored in the final minute of the 2nd period with the man advantage to draw to within one of Victoria.
Taylor Crunk redirected a Hicketts point shot in the third to regain the two goal lead for Victoria, but Brennen Mennell brought the home team again to within one, 6-5. Fushimi added the empty net goal and the Royals took the two points.
“Pretty good game…” said Blomqvist on a two goal night, “…we controlled the game in the first and second, a little bit sloppy in the third, but strong character coming out with the win.”
With five assists Brandon Magee tied a franchise record for most helpers in a game with Mark Santorelli, back in October 2007 with Chilliwack against Prince George.
Crunk had a goal and assist.
“Another key that goes unnoticed is how well (the line of Fisher-Crunk-Nagy)…you get two goals from that line, how well and hard they play – nice to see those guys rewarded, and Crunk gets a big goal in the third period for us.” said to Lowry
Forward Joel Hamilton was 2nd star with two goals and an assist for Vancouver, while Matt Bellerieve had 3 helpers. Carter Popoff and Thomas Foster chipped in with a pair of assists each for the Giants.
The Royals wore their black 3rd jerseys, while the Giants paid homage to the WHA’s Vancouver Blazers, a yellow and red jersey from the early 70’s.
Victoria returns home to open a four game homestand with a pair against the #2 team in the CHL, the Kelowna Rockets Tuesday and Wednesday.
- Marlon Martens
Victoria Royals 7 at Vancouver Giants 5 - Status: Final
Saturday, November 15, 2014 - Pacific Coliseum - Vancouver, BC
Victoria 2 3 2 - 7
Vancouver 2 2 1 - 5
1st Period-
1, Victoria, Blomqvist 8 (Magee), 8:39.
2, Vancouver, Baer 7 (Bellerive, Foster), 11:22.
3, Vancouver, Hamilton 8 (Bellerive, Popoff), 13:41.
4, Victoria, Carroll 14 (Magee, Hicketts), 16:46 (PP).
Penalties-Nagy Vic (major-fighting), 3:21; Houck Van (major-fighting), 3:21; Kanzig Vic (holding), 9:06; Geertsen Van (high sticking), 15:25.
2nd Period-
5, Vancouver, Houck 6 (Hamilton), 3:09.
6, Victoria, Brown 7 (Hicketts, Magee), 6:16 (PP).
7, Victoria, Blomqvist 9 (Magee, Hicketts), 13:01.
8, Victoria, Nagy 3 (Crunk, Gagnon), 13:34.
9, Vancouver, Hamilton 9 (Popoff, Atwal), 19:28 (PP).
Penalties-Foster Van (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 4:24; Sward Van (slashing), 5:57; Roach Van (holding), 13:38; Osipov Van (cross checking), 15:24; Atwal Van (tripping), 16:32; Palmer Vic (boarding), 17:33.
3rd Period-
10, Victoria, Crunk 3 (Hicketts), 7:36. 11, Vancouver, Menell 2 (Dosanjh, Bellerive), 14:02. 12, Victoria, Fushimi 4 (Magee), 18:48 (EN).
Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-
Victoria 9-14-4-27.
Vancouver 11-7-17-35.
Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 2 / 6;
Vancouver 1 / 2.
Goalies-
Victoria, Vollrath 10-8-2-0 (35 shots-30 saves).
Vancouver, Porter 2-2-0-0 (17 shots-13 saves); Lee 6-9-0-0 (9 shots-7 saves).
A-5,080
Referees-Kevin Bennett (29), Mike Langin (67).
Linesmen-Nick Bilko (66), Spencer Lockert (84).
