Recap: VIC 3 - VAN 4 (Wed. Dec.16.2015)

The Vancouver Giants came from behind with a pair of goals in the third to edge the visiting Victoria Royals 4-3 Wednesday night.

“I thought our effort was good, we just made some key mistakes that cost us the game..” said interim Head Coach Enio Sacilotto,

“When you have a one goal lead you have to be smart in managing the puck and doing the right things to preserve the win.”

After Regan Nagy had given the Royals their first lead of the game in the final frame, Brendan Mennell tied it and then set up Chase Lang for the winner all in the final 5:29.

Victoria had come back twice to tie the game, but drop their 2^nd in a row against Vancouver, who take 3 of the 4 straight games against each other.

The Royals were without leading scorer Alex Forsberg who was issued a one game suspension for instigating a fight in the final 5 minutes of Sunday afternoon’s loss.

“Yes, you miss those guys,” said Sacilotto on also being without Hicketts at the World Juniors,

“…but I always maintain that it doesn’t matter who’s missing, other guys have to find a way to get things done and that’s a sign of a really good team.”

The Royals got goals from defenseman Jordan Wharrie, his first with the club since being acquired from the Silvertips, and rearguard Ralph Jarratt’s on the power play to tie it up in the 2^nd period.

“It was a pretty special feeling, doing it in my hometown in front of friends and family with my Mom and Dad here, is pretty special moment for sure.” Said Wharrie who hails from Port Moody.

Interim Captain Logan Fisher had a pair of assists, and was named 2^nd star.

“After we got up, we just didn’t quite stick to it towards the end…we just have to learn from it, learn to finish out games here before Christmas, they’re definitely big games.” Said Fisher.

Victoria out shot Vancouver 29-27, and won the special teams battle going 1 for 5 on the power play, while shutting down all 3 opposition man advantages.

Coleman Vollrath took the loss stopping 23 of 27 including a highlight reel save off Trevor Cox to temporarily preserve a 3-2 lead.

Giants netminder Ryan Kubic earned the 3^rd star of the game with a 26 save performance.

Royals 19 year old defenseman Ryan Gagnon threw several big hits including one on Josh Thrower which popped out a pane of glass, causing a 15 minute delay in the middle of the 2^nd period.

Vancouver also got goals from Owen Hardy and Carter Popoff, while Trevor Cox and Ty Ronning had a pair of helpers each.

Victoria’s Ty Westgard played his first WHL game, recently added to the roster.  The 17 year old forward is an 8^th round bantam pick, was playing for the BCHL Surrey Eagles prior and is ‘C’ Rated for the upcoming draft.

Victoria wraps up their 3 game road trip with a pair of games in Prince George Friday and Saturday, a team they’re tied with in points.

- Marlon Martens

Victoria Royals 3 at Vancouver Giants 4 - Status: Final
Wednesday, December 16, 2015 - Pacific Coliseum - Vancouver, BC

Victoria 1 1 1 - 3
Vancouver 2 0 2 - 4

1st Period-

1, Vancouver, Hardy 1 (Brumm), 6:56.

2, Victoria, Wharrie 1 (Phillips), 15:21.

3, Vancouver, Popoff 9 (Ronning, Cox), 19:50.

Penalties-Reddekopp Vic (inter. on goaltender), 1:15; Soy Vic (major-fighting), 9:16; Barberis Van (major-fighting), 9:16; Reddekopp Vic (cross checking), 12:46.

2nd Period-

4, Victoria, Jarratt 2 (Fisher), 19:00 (PP).

Penalties-Popoff Van (hooking), 5:23; Semchuk Van (charging), 15:49; Odgers Van (butt-ending, butt-ending), 17:32.

3rd Period-

5, Victoria, Nagy 5 (Fisher, Dmytriw), 7:29.

6, Vancouver, Menell 2 (Ronning, Cox), 14:31.

7, Vancouver, Lang 10 (Menell, Benson), 18:13.

Penalties-Popoff Van (tripping), 16:22; Walker Vic (hooking), 17:04.

Shots on Goal-

Victoria 8-7-14-29.

Vancouver 13-4-10-27.

Power Play Opportunities-

Victoria 1 / 5;

Vancouver 0 / 3.

Goalies-

Victoria, Vollrath 16-10-0-1 (27 shots-23 saves).

Vancouver, Kubic 6-9-1-0 (29 shots-26 saves).

A-3,251
Referees-Mike Campbell (89), Nick Swaine (35).
Linesmen-Nick Bilko (66), Devon Sephton (149).