WHL Victoria Royals

Royals Edged by Rockets in Shootout

Published on January 8, 2012 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Victoria Royals News Release


Victoria, BC - On Saturday night the Victoria Royals took on the Kelowna Rockets in the second of a two game home stand at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. The Royals started Keith Hamilton in goal while the Rockets' countered with Jordon Cooke.

The game would get off to a fast start as both teams looked to gain an advantage early. Coincidental minor penalties to Kelowna's Myles Bell and Victoria's Steven Hodges would add to both teams' chances to break the deadlock, however, neither club could find the back of the net. The Royals would kill off a Rockets' power play mid-way through the period with key saves by Hamilton on Kelowna's Brett Bulmer. Shortly after the Rockets' man-advantage expired Victoria's Brandon Magee would find Steven Hodges at the top of the Rockets' crease, but the forward was unable to beat the left pad of Cooke. The Royals' best chance of the period would come with just under three minutes left in the period when Hodges stole the puck from a Rockets' defender and fed Magee alone in the slot, but he fired the puck just high and wide. The game would remain scoreless after the first period.

Victoria would start the second period on the power play and a mere 24 seconds into the frame, defensemen Hayden Rintoul fed a cross-ice slap pass to Magee who made no mistake in potting his 11th goal of the season for a 1-0 lead. Kelowna would answer shorthanded at the 4:36 mark when Shane McColgan fed Carter Rigby a cross-crease pass that the forward fired passed an outstretched Hamilton. Victoria retook the lead just over a minute later with their second power play goal of the game when Rintoul beat Cooke clean with a slap shot from the blueline. Myles Bell would tie the game for the Rockets' on the power play at 13:36 when he fired a shot from the point that would handcuff Hamilton. Kelowna spent the final 3:34 of the period on the man advantage after Victoria was given a five minute major penalty, but were unable to solve the Royals' penalty kill. After 40 minutes, the score was even at 2-2.

Kelowna took a 3-2 lead 45 seconds into the period when Bulmer beat Hamilton through the legs with a backhand shot. The Royals pulled even when Mike Forsyth tipped home a Zach Habscheid point shot for his first goal of the season at 10:41. Victoria got the best chance for the go-ahead goal when Kevin Sundher sped past the Kelowna defense and went to his forehand, but was unable to beat the outstretched stick of Cooke with less than two minutes left. At the end of the third period the game remained tied 3-3.

The teams exchanged chances in the extra frame, but a shootout would be required. Victoria's Robin Soudek made a deke attempt that was thwarted by a poke check before the Rockets' Zach Franko beat Hamilton to the blocker side. Logan Nelson would shoot second for the Royals, but was unable to beat Cooke to the glove side. Myles Bell missed on Kelowna's second attempt and Brandon Magee was unable to solve Cooke in the Royals' last attempt. Kelowna 4 Victoria 3 in a shootout.

Victoria went 2/6 33.3% on the power play, while Kelowna was 2/4 50.0%. The Rockets' outshot the Royals 36-26.

The Royals open up a six game road trip in Regina on Friday January 13th. Game time is 5:00 p.m. PST. The Royals return home on Friday, January 27th when they welcome the Kamloops Blazers to the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre for a two game set. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. For further details or to purchase your tickets today, visit the Victoria Royals Ticket Office, www.victoriaroyals.com, or call 250-220-7889.

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 8, 2012


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