Recap: PG 3 - VIC 1

Logan Nelson is stopped by Drew Owsley in a 3-1 Cougars Win

Caleb Belter scored the game winning goal and added an assist to lead the visiting Prince George Cougars past the Victoria Royals 3-1 Saturday night.

Drew Owsley stopped 28 shots for his 18th win and 2nd star honours.  Keith Hamilton stopped 7 of 10 in the first, before being replaced by Jared Rathjen who saved all 17 he faced.

Tim Traber fights Reid Jackson

Victoria remains tied for 7th with Seattle, just 1 point up on Everett. The Cougars move to within two points of the Royals with two games in hand and will wrap up the season series next weekend in Prince George.  Victoria leads the series 4 games to 2, taking a split in the two game weekend set.

Prince George jumped to a three nothing lead in the first on goals by Daniel Gibb, followed by Caleb Belter on the power play.  Nanaimo product Greg Fraser scored shorthanded at the 18:55 mark, but just 27 seconds later on the same man advantage, Hayden Rintoul’s point shot got past Owsley to bring the score to 3-1 after 20 minutes. 

There would be no scoring in the final two frames.

Royals assistant Coach Ben Cooper on the loss:
 
It was their 5th sell out of the season, 7006.

Hayden Rintoul scores his 14th while on the power play for Victoria

Victoria’s penalty killing which was perfect in it’s previous four games, surrendered one goal on five PG attempts, as the Cougars also went one for five.

The Royals out shot the Cougars 29-27, putting out more shots than the opposition in five straight games and 7 of their last 8.

After five fights in Friday’s 4-2 Victoria victory, there would be two more Saturday.  In the second Keegan Kanzig fought Campbell Elynuik, and in the third Tim Traber squared off against Reid Jackson.

Jamie Crooks 8 game point streak (6g 3a) was snapped in the loss.  Ben Walker added an assist for 3 helpers in his last two games and was third star.

Up next, the Royals head out on the road for 3 games, starting with the number one team in the West, the Kamloops Blazers who’ve dropped their last two.  The Royals have won once against the Blazers, 4-2 on home ice on Jan 27th (1-5-1-0). 

Prince George Cougars 3 at Victoria Royals 1 - Status: Final
Saturday, February 18, 2012 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC

Prince George 3 0 0 - 3
Victoria 1 0 0 - 1

1st Period-
1, Prince George, Gibb 1 (Belter, Elynuik), 8:23.
2, Prince George, Belter 4 (Carlson, Blidstrand), 16:39 (PP).
3, Prince George, Fraser 14   18:55 (SH).
4, Victoria, Rintoul 14 (Soudek, Walker), 19:22 (PP).

Penalties-Jackson P.g (holding), 0:59; Walker Vic (tripping), 15:21; Springer P.g (slashing), 18:20.

2nd Period- No Scoring.

Penalties-Jones Vic (roughing), 1:14; Mykitiuk P.g (roughing), 8:17; Kralik Vic (roughing), 8:17; Elynuik P.g (major-fighting), 12:08; Kanzig Vic (major-fighting), 12:08; Bourke P.g (tripping), 14:13; Soudek Vic (interference), 15:30; Nelson Vic (high sticking), 16:06; served by Mykitiuk P.g (bench), 20:00.

3rd Period-
No Scoring.

Penalties-Jackson P.g (major-fighting), 8:23; Traber Vic (instigator, major-fighting, 10-minute misconduct), 8:23; Siwak P.g (tripping), 15:58.

Shots on Goal-
Prince George 10-10-7-27.
Victoria 9-9-11-29.

Power Play Opportunities-
Prince George 1 / 5; Victoria 1 / 5.

Goalies-
Prince George, Owsley 18-29-0-1 (29 shots-28 saves).
Victoria,
Hamilton 17-30-1-4 (10 shots-7 saves);
Rathjen 0-4-1-0 (17 shots-17 saves).

A-7,006
Referees-Jeff Ingram (82), Colby Smith (57).
Linesmen-Jason Cramer (122), Ryan Gibbons (73).

Preview: Prince George at Victoria - Sat, Feb 18

Logan Nelson crashes the net in a 4-2 win over the Cougars

The Victoria Royals (18-34-2-4) face the visiting Prince George Cougars (18-36-0-2) in the second of back to back games Saturday night.  Pregame show on The Zone @ 91.3 FM in Victoria at 6:45 or online at www.thezone.fm.

LAST GAME:  The Royals defeated the Cougars 4-2 Friday night by scoring 4 goals in the second period.  Victoria trailed 1-0 after a first period which saw 5 fights.  The Royals got goals from Brandon Magee, Steven Hodges, Jamie Crooks, and Dakota Conroy.  Victoria’s power play went 2 for 5, while stopping all 7 of Prince George’s man advantages.

Cougars leading scorer Troy Bourke.

The Royals penalty kill has been perfect in their last 4 games (13 for 13).  Victoria held PG to just 20 shots, a Royals season low.  They’ve out shot the opposition in 4 straight and 6 of 7 games.

The Royals who snapped their five game winless streak last night, wrap up their five game homestand tonight (1-3).

SEASON SERIES:  Victoria now leads the season series 4 games to 1.  They’ll finish the eight meetings next Friday and Saturday in Prince George.

Prince George 2 @ Victoria 4 (Feb 17 2012)
Prince George 1 @ Victoria 5 (Feb 1 2012)
Prince George 4 @ Victoria 2 (Jan 31 2012)
Victoria 6 @ Prince George 5 (Oct 1 2011)
Victoria 5 @ Prince George 4 (Sep 30 2011) SO

D Tyler Stahl returned to the line up for the Royals

STANDINGS: The win moves the Royals into a tie with the Thunderbirds for 7th, 3 ahead of the 9th place Silvertips, and 4 points up on the Cougars.  Prince George has two in hand while Everett and Seattle each have one.

WHO’S HOT: With a goal and assist last night Jamie Crooks extends his point streak to 8 games (6g 3a), and is tied with Oscar Moller for 3rd all time in goals with 71.  Steven Hodges and Ben Walker had two point nights.  Logan Nelson has assists in back to back games and tied for 3rd in rookie scoring.

COUGARS STATS:  The Cougars have scored the fewest goals in the league, with the fewest shots for.  They have the 22nd ranked power play and have taken the 5th most penalty minutes per game on average.

LEADING SCORERS:

For Prince George:
Bourke (10-30-40)
Carlson (8-25-33)
Fo rsberg (12-19-31)
Asuchak (15-13-28)
Fraser (13-11-24)

For Victoria:
Crooks (31-30-61)
Nelson (20-33-53)
Soudek (22-27-49)
Magee (20-22-42)
Rintoul (13-29-42)

ISLAND BOYS:  The Cougars boast two local players, F Greg Fraser from Nanaimo, and D Cody Carlson from Victoria who is second on the club in scoring with 33 points.

DRAFTED/NHL SIGNED PLAYERS: For Victoria: D Tyler Stahl (Carolina, 6th rd 2010), and D Jordan Fransoo (Ottawa, 7th rd 2011).  For Prince George: D Ricard Blidstrand (7th PHI ’10).

TOP PROSPECTS:  Central Scoutings mid-term rankings of North American players positions Victoria’s Steven Hodges (55), and Logan Nelson (108).  For PG: Troy Bourke (107).

INJ:
For Prince George:
#21, Shane Pilling, Upper body, day to day
#27, Alex Forsberg, Lower body, day to day
Additions #3, Marc McNulty, from AMHL

For Victoria:
#3, Zach Habscheid, Lower body, 1 month+

DOWN THE STRETCH:
Victoria:  Home Games (7), Away (7)
Opposition: Prince George x 3, Everett x 2, Vancouver x 3, Spokane x 2, Kelowna x 1, Portland x 2, Kamloops x 1

Recap: PG 2 - VIC 4

Jamie Crooks had a goal, assist and fight in a 4-2 Royals win.

Jamie Crooks ‘Gordie Howe Hat-trick’, led the Victoria Royals past the visiting Prince George Cougars 4-2 Friday, night snapping their 5 game winless streak.

The win moves the Royals into a tie with the Thunderbirds for 7th, 4 points ahead of the Cougars, and 3 ahead of the 9th place Silvertips.

Victoria leads the season series 4 games to 1, and will play each other again Saturday night.

Keith Hamilton made 18 saves for his 17th win, while Drew Owsley made 22 for his 29th loss.  Victoria held Prince George to 20 shots - a new season low, and have out shot their opponent in four straight.

The Royals power play clicked twice on five chances while shutting out the Cougars on 7 opportunities.  Victoria has not allowed a power play goal against in 4 games.  D Tyler Stahl comments on the victory:
 

Logan Nelson lays the body to Linden Springer

Prince George led 1-0 after the first on Caleb Belter’s 3rd, a period which saw 5 fights by the 11:39 mark.  Keegan Kanzig versus Daniel Gibb, Jesse Zgraggen against Jesse Forsberg, Logan Nelson and Reid Jackson, Jamie Crooks and Greg Fraser, and Robin Soudek versus Cody Carlson.  The later two were given game misconducts.

Victoria scored 4 straight in the second, Brandon Magee’s 20th on the power play, Steven Hodges 18th, Jamie Crooks 31st, and Dakota Conroy’s 8th also with the man advantage.

The lone goal in the third belonged to the Cougars Jake Mykitiuk who cut the lead to 4-2, but it was as close as they’d come.  Assistant Coach of the Royals, Craig Didmon post game thoughts:
 
2nd star Jamie Crooks’ goal and assist extends his point streak to 8 games (6g 3a), and ties him with Oscar Moller for 3rd all time in goals with 71.  Steven Hodges was named #1 star with his goal and assist performance.  Ben Walker chipped in with a pair of assists for third star honours.  Hayden Rintoul had his 6 game point streak snapped.

Keith Hamilton stopped 18 shots for his 17th win.

Prince George Cougars 2 at Victoria Royals 4 - Status: Final
Friday, February 17, 2012 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC

PG 1 0 1 - 2
Vict 0 4 0 - 4

1st Period-1, Prince George, Belter 3 (Blidstrand), 13:59.

Penalties-served by Nelson Vic (too many men), 3:43; Gibb P.g (major-fighting), 6:50; Kanzig Vic (major-fighting), 6:50; Elynuik P.g (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 7:21; Forsberg P.g (major-fighting), 10:41; Zgraggen Vic (major-fighting), 10:41; Jackson P.g (instigator, major-fighting, 10-minute misconduct), 11:31; Nelson Vic (major-fighting), 11:31; Carlson P.g (major-fighting, game misconduct), 11:39; Fraser P.g (cross checking, major-fighting), 11:39; Crooks Vic (major-fighting), 11:39; Soudek Vic (major-fighting, game misconduct), 11:39.

2nd Period-
2, Victoria, Magee 20 (Walker, Crooks), 5:00 (PP).
3, Victoria, Hodges 18   9:05.
4, Victoria, Crooks 31 (Nelson, Walker), 12:22.
5, Victoria, Conroy 8 (Hodges, Fransoo), 17:32 (PP).

Penalties-Nelson Vic (interference), 0:29; Zgraggen Vic (high sticking), 1:06; Mykitiuk P.g (tripping), 3:05; Walker Vic (roughing), 9:33; Gibb P.g (boarding), 15:40.

3rd Period-
6, Prince George, Mykitiuk 5 (Tkatch, Springer), 12:12.

Penalties-Nelson Vic (hooking), 7:05; Nelson Vic (inter. on goaltender), 9:51; Magee Vic (tripping), 16:29.

Shots on Goal-
Prince George 4-7-9-20.
Victoria 9-14-3-26.

Power Play Opportunities-
Prince George 0 / 7;
Victoria 2 / 5.

Goalies-
Prince George, Owsley 17-29-0-1 (26 shots-22 saves).
Victoria, Hamilton 17-29-1-4 (20 shots-18 saves).

A-6,311
Referees-Jeff Ingram (82), Colby Smith (57).
Linesmen-Jason Cramer (122), Ryan Gibbons (73).

Preview: Prince George at Victoria

#19 Logan Nelson faces off against PG's Greg Fraser

The Victoria Royals (17-34-2-4, 40pts) entertain the Prince George Cougars (18-35-0-2, 38 pts) in the first of back to back home games Friday night.  The pre-game show starts at 6:45 on The Zone @ 91.3 FM or online at www.thezone.fm.

STANDINGS:  Victoria is in the 8th and final playoff spot in the West, 1 up on Everett and 2 points up on Prince George who have 2 in hand.

Tim Traber

SEASON SERIES:  Victoria leads the 8 game season series 3 to 1, their last encounter Feb 1st a 5-1 home ice victory.  After Saturday nights contest, they’ll meet twice more in Prince George Feb 24th and 25th.

Prince George 1 @ Victoria 5 (Feb 1 2012)
Prince George 4 @ Victoria 2 (Jan 31 2012)
Victoria 6 @ Prince George 5 (Oct 1 2011)
Victoria 5 @ Prince George 4 (Sep 30 2011) SO

LAST GAME:  The Royals are coming off a 5-3 loss to the Hitmen on Wednesday.  Victoria led 2-0 before Calgary clawed back, extending the Royals winless streak to 5 games.  Tim Traber had the ‘Gordie Howe Hat-Trick’ as Victoria held Calgary to a season tying low of 21 shots and no power play’s against. 

Prince George defeated the visiting Red Deer Rebles 3-1 on Wednesday, wrapping up a 5 game home stand with 2 wins – both coming in their last 3.

Royals #5 Keegan Kanzig defends against Htimen Alex Gogolev

WHO’S HOT:  F Jamie Crooks leads the Royals in goals (30) and points (59).  He’s riding a 7 game point streak (5g 2a) and has 14 points over his last 10 games.  D Hayden Rintoul leads all defenseman in power play goals with 11, is 10th among rearguards in scoring (42) and is on a 6 game point streak (1g 6a).

ISLAND BOYS:  The Cougars boast two local players, F Greg Fraser from Nanaimo, and D Cody Carlson from Victoria who is second on the club in scoring with 33 points.

X FACTORS:  The Cougars have scored the fewest goals in the league, with the fewest shots for.  They have the 22nd ranked power play and have taken the 5th most penalty minutes per game on average.

Victoria’s penalty killing has not allowed a goal against in it’s last 3 games (6 for 6), and held the opposition to under 30 shots per game during that span.  D Tyler Stahl returns to the line up after serving a two game suspension.

HOME ICE:  Victoria is 5 under .500 at home (10-14-1-2).  Prince George is 7 under on the road (10-17-0-1).

WIKI STAT:  The Cougars are the only team in Western Hockey League history to draft 2 brothers in the first round of the Western Hockey League Bantam Draft. Jesse Forsberg, a defenceman, was drafted 11th overall by the Cougars in 2008, and his younger brother Alex, a centerman, was taken first overall in 2010.

DRAFTED/NHL SIGNED PLAYERS: For Victoria: D Tyler Stahl (Carolina, 6th rd 2010), and D Jordan Fransoo (Ottawa, 7th rd 2011).  For Prince George: D Ricard Blidstrand (7th PHI ’10).

TOP PROSPECTS:  Central Scoutings mid-term rankings of North American players positions Victoria’s Steven Hodges (55), and Logan Nelson (108).  For PG: Troy Bourke (107).

INJ:
For Prince George:
#2, Dan Gibb, Upper body, day to day
#19, Jordan Tkatch, Upper body, day to day
#21, Shane Pilling, Upper body, day to day
#27, Alex Forsberg, Lower body, day to day
Additions #3, Marc McNulty, from AMHL

For Victoria:
#3, Zach Habscheid, Lower body, 1 month+
#18, Brandon Magee, Lower body, day to day

LEADING SCORERS:

For Prince George:
Bourke (10-30-40)
Carlson (8-25-33)
Forsberg (12-19-31)
Asuchak (15-13-28)
Fraser (13-11-24)

For Victoria:
Crooks (30-29-59)
Nelson (20-32-52)
Soudek (22-27-49)
Rintoul (13-29-42)
Magee (19-22-41)

Recap: CGY 5 - VIC 3

Danny Gayle scored the game winner in 5-3 victory in Victoria

Brady Brassart and Joe Kornelson had a goal and an assist each as the visiting Calgary Hitmen got past the Victoria Royals 5-3 on Wednesday night.

After the Royals scored the fastest two goals in succession just 16 seconds apart
by Tim Traber (1g 1a) and Mike Forsyth to take an early 2-0 lead, Calgary responded with four straight.  Brady Brassart and Victor Rask tied the game at 2 after 20 minutes. 

Trevor Cheek and Danny Gayle scored in the second before Hayden Rintoul closed the gap to 4-3.  Just a 1:29 later, Kornelson added some insurance as the Hitmen regained their two goal lead.  There was no scoring in the third.

Brady Robinson, the Royals goaltending consultant thoughts following the game:
 

Brandon Glover is congratulated.

Brandon Glover made 16 saves for his 17th victory, winning both games for the Hitmen in the season series in his hometown of Victoria.  Keith Hamilton stopped 16 pucks for his 29th loss.

Victoria held Calgary to just 21 shots against, tying a season low.  The Royals did not allow the Hitmen a single power play opportunity, while going 0 for 1 with the man advantage.

Hayden Rintoul extended his point streak to 6 games (1g 6a), while Jamie Crooks pushed his streak to 7 games (5g 2a).

Victoria is now winless in 5, and own the 8th and final playoff spot in the West.  Everett is 1 shy, and Prince George just 2 points back and will be in Victoria for a pair Friday and Saturday as the Royals close out a 5 game homestand.


Calgary Hitmen 5 at Victoria Royals 3 - Status: Final
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC

Calgary 2 3 0 - 5
Victoria 2 1 0 - 3

1st Period-
1, Victoria, Traber 3 (Zgraggen, Soudek), 1:41.
2, Victoria, Forsyth 2 (Traber), 1:57.
3, Calgary, Brassart 19 (Macek, Cheek), 7:06.
4, Calgary, Rask 24 (Brassart, Humphries), 13:40.

Penalties-
No Penalties

2nd Period-
5, Calgary, Cheek 20 (Sylvester), 3:37.
6, Calgary, Gayle 12 (Trzonkowski, Kornelsen), 5:17.
7, Victoria, Rintoul 13 (Nelson, Crooks), 14:26.
8, Calgary, Kornelsen 10   15:55.

Penalties-
Helgesen Cal (major-fighting), 20:00; Soudek Vic (major-fighting), 20:00.

3rd Period-
No Scoring.

Penalties-
Sutherland Cal (major-fighting), 8:48; Traber Vic (major-fighting), 8:48; Roach Cal (tripping), 15:42.

Shots on Goal-
Calgary 8-6-7-21.
Victoria 7-9-9-25.

Power Play Opportunities-
Calgary 0 / 0; Victoria 0 / 1.

Goalies-
Calgary, Glover 17-12-0-0 (25 shots-22 saves).
Victoria, Hamilton 16-29-1-4 (21 shots-16 saves).

A-4,593
Referees-Adam Griffiths (36), Brett Montsion (54).
Linesmen-Ron Dietterle (121), Kirk Van Helvoirt (107).

Preview: Calgary at Victoria

The Victoria Royals (17-33-2-4, 40 pts) entertain the Calgary Hitmen (32-22-2-1, 67 pts) Wednesday night at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Center.  Pregame show on the Zone @ 91.3 at 6:45pm or online at www.thezone.fm.

#10 Ben Walker vs Brandon Glover

SEASON SERIES:  It’s the second and final meeting of the season, with Calgary winning in Victoria 9-4 back on January 3rd.  Logan Nelson had a hat trick for the Royals, but the Hitmen power play struck three times on four opportunities while Jimmy Bubnick led Calgary with 2 goals and 2 assists.

LAST GAME:  Victoria is coming off a pair of 3-2 losses to the Everett Silvertips last Tuesday and Wednesday and are winless in 4.  Calgary has dropped 4 straight, and 5 of 6 after winning 14 of 15.  During their past 6, the power play has dried up going 1 for 20, while the opposition has scored 9 times on 28 chances.  They wrapped up a 3 game homestand with a 4-0 loss to the Kootenay Ice on Sunday.

STANDINGS:  The Royals are 8th in the West with 40 points, 1 up on the Silvertips, and 4 points ahead of the Cougars who have 2 in hand, who will be in Victoria for a pair on Friday and Saturday.  The Hitmen are 6th in the East , 2 back of the Blades, and 3 up on the Pats.  Only 9 points separates 2nd and 6th in the Conference.

X FACTORS:  Some eye catching statistics relating to Calgary; 2nd most penalty minutes taken on average per game (24.75), and 2nd fewest shots allowed per game (27.35).  Short handed, they’ve scored the 2nd most goals with 13.  Overall the Hitmen have the 6th most goals for, while allowing the 10th fewest. 

Victoria has taken the 5th fewest penalties per game on average while scoring the 12th most goals per game in the league.

HOME ICE:  Victoria is 4 under .500 at home (10-14-1-2).  Calgary has only lost once to a BC division opponent in 7 games and are 5 over .500 on the road (16-11-2-0).

DRAFTED/NHL SIGNED PLAYERS: For Victoria: D Tyler Stahl (Carolina, 6th rd 2010), and D Jordan Fransoo (Ottawa, 7th rd 2011).  For Calgary, D Alex Roach (LA ’11), F Brooks Macek (DET ’10), F Jimmy Bubnick (ATL ’09), F Victor Rask (CAR ’11).

LEADING SCORERS:
Bubnick (26-31-57)    
Sylvester (18-38-56)
Brassart (18-26-44)
Rask (23-19-42)
Gogolev (22-19-41)

Crooks (30-28-58)
Nelson (20-31-51)
Soudek (22-26-48)
Magee (19-22-41)
Rintoul (12-29-41)

INJURIES:
Calgary:
#9, Jaynen Rissling, Lower body, 2 weeks
#19, Calder Brooks, Upper body, 1 week
Returns:
#11, Brooks Macek, from injury
#12, Joe Kornelsen, from injury
#16, Cody Sylvester, from illness

Victoria:
#3, Zach Habscheid, Lower body, 1 month+
#18, Brandon Magee, Lower body, day to day
Suspension #7, Tyler Stahl, 1 game remaining

TOP PROSPECTS:  Central Scoutings mid-term rankings of North American players positions Victoria’s F Steven Hodges (55), and F Logan Nelson (108).  For Calgary, D Jaynen Rissling (165).

DOWN THE STRETCH:
Victoria:  Home Games (9), Away (7)
Opposition: Prince George x 4, Everett x 2, Calgary x 1, Vancouver x 3, Spokane x 2, Kelowna x 1, Portland x 2, Kamloops x 1

The Zone's Hockey Show

The Zone's Hockey Show runs Monday night at 7pm on The Zone at 91.3 FM.

Captain Hayden Rintoul fires a shot against Everett

This week, a recap of the Victoria Royals past weeks games, a preview of the Calgary Hitmen with Brad Curle, and Scott Didmon fills us in on the Victoria Grizzlies.