May 23, 2013
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Royals Burned by Blazers

October 3, 2011 - Western Hockey League (WHL) Victoria Royals

Kamloops, BC - The Victoria Royals landed in Kamloops for a Sunday night match-up against the Blazers that saw the team play their third game in three nights. The Royals swept the first two games of the weekend in Prince George and brought a three-game winning streak into the game. Victoria started Keith Hamilton in the net while Kamloops gave Taran Kozun his first start of his WHL career.

The Blazers used a strong forecheck to open the scoring at 5:24 of the first period. After battling to keep the puck in the zone, Kamloops' forward Logan McVeigh corralled a loose puck at the side of the net and slide a cross crease pass as he fell to the ice. Colin Smith dove towards the puck and shot it into the Royals' net for the 1-0 lead. Smith looked for his second goal of the game when he was sprung on a breakaway. Kamloops' defenceman Austin Madaisky wired a pass from deep in his own zone to Smith on the Victoria side of center. The Blazers' forward came in on Hamilton and let a quick wrist shot go, but the Royals' keeper batted it down with his glove to keep it 1-0. Kamloops made it 2-0 a few minutes later when a shot from the left point by Madaisky was kicked aside by Hamilton, but Blazers' forward JC Lipon was on the doorstep and lifted the rebound, via the backhand, into the net at 10:25. Kamloops held a 2-0 lead after the first period.

The Blazers increased their lead to 3-0 early in the second. Kamloops' forward Ryan Hanes broke into the zone down the right wing boards and fed Chase Schaber at the top of the circle. Schaber toe-dragged the Royals' defender, to create space, and then let a wrist shot fly. Hamilton got a piece of the puck with his blocker, but not enough as it found the back of the net at the 3:54 mark. Schaber made it 4-0 with a shorthanded breakaway goal at 11:28. Braden Gamble replaced Hamilton in the Victoria net following Schaber's goal. The Royals' quickly responded on the power play a mere 33 seconds later. Kade Pilton cut down the right half-wall from his point position. When he reached the corner he threw a cross-ice pass to Logan Nelson who wired a wrist shot past the glove of Kozun to cut the lead to 4-1. Kamloops added to their lead with Lipon's second of the night to regain the four goal advantage. Victoria got that one back after Nelson counted his second of the game when he collected the rebound of an Austin Carroll slap shot and put it behind Kozun. The Blazers led 5-2 through 40 minutes.

Kamloops added three more goals in the third period when Tim Bozon, Matt Needham and Bronson Maschmeyer lit the lamp. Blazers 8 Royals 2.

Victoria went 1/616.7% on the power play, while Kamloops was 0/60.0%. The Blazers outshot the Royals 42-23.

Victoria returns for home games on October 6th and 7th when the Medicine Hat Tigers come to the island. Puck drop for both games will be 7:05 p.m. For further details or to purchase your tickets today, visit the Victoria Royals Ticket Office, www.selectyourtickets.com/victoriaroyals, e-mail vrtickets@victoriaroyals.com or call 250-220-7889.

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Western Hockey League Stories from October 3, 2011


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