Recap: VIC 3 - KAM 2 (Wed. Dec.30.2015)

Coleman Vollrath made 36 saves and Matthew Phillips scored the winner as the visiting Victoria Royals (23-12-1-2, 49pts) beat the Kamloops Blazers 3-2 Wednesday night.

“We got an early start, a 2-0 lead, and chances throughout,” said interim head coach Enio Sacilotto,

“We got the third one that we needed, Vollrath closed the door at the end and that’s a sign of a good team – It was a good team effort all the way around.”

Phillips broke a 2-2 second period tie for the eventual winner, helping the Royals pick up points in 3 straight games (2-0-0-1).

“We had a really good start, got a lot of pucks on net…we didn’t want to pass up shots and we played a solid sixty.” Said Matthew Phillips who’s second in rookie scoring and is tied in freshman goals with 19.

Vollrath stopped all 18 he faced in the third period including several during a late Blazer (17-14-3-1, 38pts) power play to preserve the lead, and help Victoria remain 2^nd in the West, one point up on Prince George.

“They put a lot of pucks on net in the third, I think that put me into a rhythm,” said Vollrath,

“Honestly I was just trying to have fun and enjoy playing the game – and that’s when I play my best.”

The Royals fired a season high 22 first period shots, and lead 2-1 after 20 minutes on goals by Vladimir Bobylev and rookie Ryan Peckford.

“We were pretty excited, we just want to get out there and score goals and get a good start and it’s a lot more fun when you’re playing with the lead.” said Phillips.

Victoria out shot Kamloops 43-38 overall as Connor Ingram earned first star honours with 40 saves in the defeat.

“They were hungry for a victory, so all credit goes to the locker room, the leadership and all the players.” Commented Sacilotto on coming off a 3-2 shoot out loss to the Cougars.

The Royals power play went 0 for 2, and stopped all 3 Blazer man advantages.

Victoria now leads the season series 4-1 and improve to (4-4-0-1) with interim head coach Enio Sacilotto behind the bench.

“A big win is right…” said Vollrath,

“Especially when you look at the standings, and how tight our division is.  Right now playing a lot of divisional games is huge that we play well and get these points while we can…so we’re not looking to get them when it comes down to the end of the season.”

Kamloops got goals from Jake Kryski and Jermaine Loewen.

It was Victoria’s final game of 2015 and the two clubs will next meet New Years Day at 2pm in Kamloops.

The 3 game BC Division road trip wraps up Saturday in Kelowna against the WHL’s top seeded Rockets.

- Marlon Martens

Victoria Royals 3 at Kamloops Blazers 2 - Status: Final
Wednesday, December 30, 2015 - Sandman Centre

Victoria 2 1 0 - 3
Kamloops 1 1 0 - 2

1st Period-

1, Victoria, Bobylev 13 (Soy, Ibragimov), 4:34.

2, Victoria, Peckford 5 (Price, Anderson), 6:46.

3, Kamloops, Loewen 4 (Miller, Bast), 13:40.

Penalties-Jarratt Vic (holding), 10:31.

2nd Period-

4, Kamloops, Kryski 7 (Sideroff, Reagan), 5:17.

5, Victoria, Phillips 19 (Hannoun), 8:45.

Penalties-Campese Kam (hooking), 9:42; Gagnon Vic (tripping), 19:48.

3rd Period-

No Scoring.

Penalties-served by Miller Kam (too many men), 3:46; Walker Vic (hooking), 15:30.

Shots on Goal-

Victoria 22-13-8-43.

Kamloops 8-12-18-38.

Power Play Opportunities-

Victoria 0 / 2;

Kamloops 0 / 3.

Goalies-

Victoria, Vollrath 18-10-0-2 (38 shots-36 saves).

Kamloops, Ingram 15-9-3-1 (43 shots-40 saves).

A-3,797
Referees-Kevin Bennett (29), Jeff Ingram (82).
Linesmen-Jacob Hill (122), Spencer Lockert (84).