Trailing 2-0 after 20 minutes, the Royals scored 4 in a row in the middle frame before the Cougars came to within one in the third. Taylor Crunk added the insurance marker into an empty net for the victory.
Magee scored all three in the 2nd period for the franchise’s 2nd playoff hatrick, the first coming exactly 3 years ago to the date, courtesy of Jamie Crooks in game 3 versus the Kamloops Blazers in a 7-5 loss.
Greg Chase also scored for Victoria, while Alex Forsberg and Joe Hicketts added a pair of helpers each. Netminder Coleman Vollrath made 28 saves including 13 in the third for the win.
The Cougars got goals from Tate Olson, Chase Witala, and Kody McDonald, while Brad Morrison had a pair of helpers. Ty Edmonds allowed 4 goals on 24 shots in the loss.
All of Prince George’s goals came with the man advantage going 3 for 4, while Victoria was 0 for 3.
The two clubs will square off for game 2 Saturday night at 7pm.
- Marlon Martens
(scoring summary below Royals Media Release)
ROYALS TAKE DOWN COUGARS IN GAME 1
Victoria tops Prince George 5-3 to take 1-0 series lead.
For Immediate Release
Friday, March 27, 2015
Victoria, BC- The Victoria Royals scored four second period goals to defeat the Prince George Cougars 5-3 and take a 1-0 series lead in the Western Conference Quarter-Finals.
The Royals trailed the Cougars 2-0 after 20 minutes before Brandon Magee netted his first career WHL playoff hat-trick and Greg Chase scored a highlight reel goal to give Victoria the 4-2 lead after two periods. Taylor Crunk tallied an empty net goal for the Royals in the final frame. The Cougars' Tate Olson and Chase Witala both scored in the opening period and Kody McDonald added a goal in the third period.
Victoria netminder Coleman Vollrath turned aside 28 of the 31 shots he faced for his first career post-season win. Prince George countered with Ty Edmonds who stopped 20 of 24 shots.
Victoria went 0/3=0.0% with the man advantage, while Prince George held a 3/4=75.0% mark.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is slated for tomorrow with puck drop scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Individual playoff tickets, starting at $13.00, are now on sale at the Select Your Tickets Box Office located at the arena, over the phone at 250-220-7777 or online at ww.selectyourtickets.com.
Season Tickets for the 2015-16 Royals season are on sale now. Take advantage of our exclusive Early Bird offer to new season ticket holders by placing a $100 per seat deposit and getting all remaining home games for the first round of the playoffs for free. To arrange a meeting to pick your seats please call 250-220-7889 or visit the Victoria Royals ticket office at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.
Prince George Cougars 3 at Victoria Royals 5 - Status: Final
Friday, March 27, 2015 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC
Prince George 2 0 1 - 3
Victoria 0 4 1 - 5
1st Period-
1, Prince George, Olson 1 (Carvalho, Morrison), 6:08 (PP).
2, Prince George, Witala 1 (Erricson, Connolly), 7:06 (PP).
Penalties-Jarratt Vic (cross checking), 4:30; Brown Vic (cross checking), 5:51; Edmonds P.g (delay of game), 7:44.
2nd Period-
3, Victoria, Magee 1 (Hicketts), 4:59.
4, Victoria, Magee 2 (Forsberg), 5:59.
5, Victoria, Chase 1 (Soy, Walker), 12:20.
6, Victoria, Magee 3 (Carroll, Forsberg), 18:44.
Penalties-Andrlik P.g (high sticking), 0:44; Pochiro P.g (slashing), 10:47; Brown Vic (roughing), 10:47; Bear P.g (holding), 15:33.
3rd Period-
7, Prince George, McDonald 1 (Morrison), 6:32 (PP).
8, Victoria, Crunk 1 (Hicketts, Magee), 19:27 (EN).
Penalties-Sleptsov Vic (tripping), 1:56; Walker Vic (hooking), 4:38.
Shots on Goal-
Prince George 12-5-14-31.
Victoria 9-8-8-25.
Power Play Opportunities-
Prince George 3 / 4;
Victoria 0 / 3.
Goalies-
Prince George, Edmonds 0-1-0-0 (24 shots-20 saves).
Victoria, Vollrath 1-0-0-0 (31 shots-28 saves).
A-4,629
Referees-Fraser Lawrence (10), Derek Zalaski (8).
Linesmen-Ron Dietterle (121), Bevan Mills (98).
