Recap: PG 2 - VIC 6 (Sunday Dec.27.2015)

The Victoria Royals scored four times in the first period in a 6-2 win over the visiting Prince George Cougars Sunday night, retaking sole possession of 2^nd in the West.

“Having a good start was important because we wanted a bounce back game, and that’s what we got.”  - Interim Head Coach Enio Sacilotto,

Victoria had settled for a split in Prince George before the Christmas Break, winning 2-0 then falling 8-2.   It was the Royals third of four in a row against the Cougars who will play again on the Island Monday night at 7pm.

Victoria held a 4-0 lead after 20 minutes, before the clubs exchanged goals in each of the final two frames.

Royals forward Dante Hannoun and Vladimir Bobylev led the way with 3 assists each, while defenseman Ryan Gagnon had a goal and assist. 

“After we had a couple days (off from the break) we came back and played a well 60 minute game and hopefully we bring that in for (Monday) night.” Said Hannoun, the games first star.

Victoria got goals from 6 different skaters. 

“I thought we came back (from the break), and had a good start which helped us win the game.” said Gagnon

“The rest is always good, get back and see family and get away from the rink for a little bit…I think both teams really wanted to win this game, they had a big push in the second, we got into a little bit of penalty trouble but I thought it was a pretty good game.”

Jared Dmytriw, Alex Forsberg and Tyler Soy scored on the clubs first 4 shots.  Jack Walker and Brayden Pachal also got goals, and for Pachal it was the rookie defenseman’s first in the WHL.

“That was nice, he really stepped up his game and was really good tonight.” commented Sacilotto on the Estevan product’s first.

The animosity brewed between the clubs, with a pair of fights in the middle frame.

Victoria was 0 for 6 on the power play, while Prince George went 1 for 8.

“I expect us to be a little more disciplined, I thought we took way too many penalties tonight.” said Sacilotto,

Coleman Vollrath earned the victory for the Royals between the pipes with 34 stops, while Ty Edmonds started the game, allowed 2 goals on 2 shots before giving way to Nick McBride who finished the first stopping 11 of 13.  Edmonds came in to start the second and concluded the game.

Victoria leads the 8 game season series 2 games to 1.

- Marlon Martens

Prince George Cougars 2 at Victoria Royals 6 - Status: Final
Sunday, December 27, 2015 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC

Prince George 0 1 1 - 2
Victoria 4 1 1 - 6

1st Period-

1, Victoria, Dmytriw 4 (Reddekopp, Fisher), 1:02.

2, Victoria, Forsberg 13   2:27.

3, Victoria, Soy 14 (Gagnon, Bobylev), 7:13.

4, Victoria, Gagnon 3 (Bobylev, Hannoun), 18:10.

Penalties-Anderson Vic (kneeing), 2:48; Ruopp P.g (roughing), 8:04; Reddekopp Vic (hooking), 14:26; Bethune P.g (hooking), 16:55; Reddekopp Vic (tripping), 18:01.

2nd Period-

5, Prince George, Witala 22 (Morrison, Gabrielle), 14:11 (PP).

6, Victoria, Pachal 1 (Hannoun), 19:15.

Penalties-McAuley P.g (cross checking, major-fighting), 6:25; Price Vic (major-fighting), 6:25; Forsberg Vic (slashing), 6:45; Witala P.g (slashing), 10:49; Bobylev Vic (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 11:59; Jarratt Vic (holding), 13:11; McDonald P.g (major-fighting), 14:48; Walker Vic (slashing, major-fighting), 14:48; Anderson P.g (slashing), 17:10.

3rd Period-

7, Victoria, Walker 14 (Hannoun, Bobylev), 7:11.

8, Prince George, McDonald 7 (Ruopp, McAuley), 9:47.

Penalties-Walker Vic (hooking), 10:31; McDonald P.g (charging), 14:40.

Shots on Goal-

Prince George 13-8-15-36.

Victoria 15-11-7-33.

Power Play Opportunities-

Prince George 1 / 8;

Victoria 0 / 6.

Goalies-

Prince George, Edmonds 11-6-1-0 (20 shots-16 saves); McBride 7-3-0-1 (13 shots-11 saves).

Victoria, Vollrath 17-10-0-1 (36 shots-34 saves).

A-5,227
Referees-Ryan Benbow (62), Adam Griffiths (36).
Linesmen-Curtis Craig (144), Kirk Van Helvoirt (107).