Austin Carroll’s goal in the 7th round of the shoot out lifted the visiting Victoria Royals past the Red Deer Rebels 2-1 Friday night.
“This is a night were the goaltender stole a win for us…” – Royals Head Coach Dave Lowry
Coleman Vollrath was the game’s first star, stopping 34 of 35 through overtime, and all 7 in the shoot out, earning the victory in his 100th career game.
“Definitely a milestone in my career, it’s quite the honour to play 100 games in the WHL because there aren’t a lot of guys at my age that get to do that…I feel pretty lucky.” said a humble Vollrath.
Vollrath made several brilliant stops, including back to back stops on Maxwell who found himself alone on the doorstep in the middle frame.
“That was a huge win for us coming into Red Deer, to kick off this road trip.”
Rylan Toth picks up a point in the loss stopping 29 of 30 after 65 minutes.
Victoria wins their 3rd in a row, while snapping Red Deer’s 5 game win streak. It was the second time the Royals beat the Rebels this season, earning a 6-5 overtime victory in Red Deer Oct. 14th. They’ll meet once more on the Island on February 7th.
Neither club could score with the man advantage, Victoria was 0 for 6, while stopping all 4 of their oppositions chances.
The Royals win their first game on the road since Nov. 29 against the Blazers by a 5-3 score. They’ve now won 6 of their last 7, and improve to 1-1 in the shoot out.
Victoria has only allowed 11 goals against over their last 7 games, an average of 1.57 per game. They’ve now won 15 of 19 games when scoring the games first goal.
Greg Chase got the Royals on board just :57 seconds into the game on a pretty passing play by Jack Walker and Tyler Soy who extended his point streak to 10 games (8g 8a) and 16pts.
“It kind of felt like a playoff game to me…” said Chase who has played against the Rebels many times as a member of the Hitmen, “to get that early goal in the first game of the road trip gave us a spark…”
Brooks Maxwell tied it late in the first, banging home a shot that initially went off the post.
There would be no more scoring until Carroll’s shoot out winner.
Defenseman Bryton Sayers suited up for his first game with his new team, recently acquired from the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
“I hope he can bring some energy and from a physical stand point, bring that element into his game as well.” said Lowry
Victoria continues their 3 game in 3 night Central Division swing in Calgary Saturday at 6pm, and Edmonton Sunday at 3pm.
- Marlon Martens
Victoria Royals 2 (SO) at Red Deer Rebels 1 - Status: Final SO
Friday, January 16, 2015 - Enmax Centrium - Red Deer, AB
Victoria 1 0 0 0 - 2
Red Deer 1 0 0 0 - 1
1st Period-
1, Victoria, Chase 10 (Walker, Soy), 0:57.
2, Red Deer, Maxwell 14 (Kopeck, Gay), 14:33.
Penalties-Crunk Vic (hooking), 4:47; Magee Vic (checking from behind), 8:00; Gay R.d (tripping), 8:25; Magee Vic (delay of game), 11:09.
2nd Period- No Scoring.
Penalties-Feser R.d (slashing), 2:47; Bobyk R.d (hooking), 8:07; Hicketts Vic (slashing), 8:30; Bleackley R.d (cross checking), 9:23; Fleury R.d (hooking), 17:59.
3rd Period- No Scoring.
Penalties-Hicketts Vic (hooking), 1:01; Johnson R.d (high sticking), 3:49.
OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties
Shootout –
Victoria 1 (Walker NG, Magee NG, Chase NG, Soy NG, Forsberg NG, Ibragimov NG, Carroll G),
Red Deer 0 (Gay NG, Maxwell NG, Sheen NG, Bleackley NG, Nell NG, Cote NG, Pawlenchuk NG).
Shots on Goal-
Victoria 12-10-5-3-1-31.
Red Deer 11-6-16-2-0-35.
Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 0 / 6;
Red Deer 0 / 4.
Goalies-
Victoria, Vollrath 19-12-2-1 (35 shots-34 saves).
Red Deer, Toth 20-11-3-3 (30 shots-29 saves).
A-5,808
Referees-Curtis Marouelli (86), Colin Watt (72).
Linesmen-Chad Huseby (59), Ross Welner (142).
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