WHL Victoria Royals

Royals Edged by Thunderbirds in Shootout

Published on October 29, 2011 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Victoria Royals News Release


Victoria, BC - In a Friday night match-up at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, the Victoria Royals faced off against the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds in the first of a seven game home stand for the Royals. Victoria gave Keith Hamilton the start in net while Seattle countered with Calvin Pickard.

Both teams exchanged a number of quality scoring opportunities in the opening minutes, but Hamilton and Pickard each made key saves to keep the game scoreless. The Royals found themselves in penalty trouble late in the first period after Austin Carroll and Mike Forsyth were called for back-to-back minor penalties. Victoria successfully killed off the four minutes of Thunderbirds' power plays, highlighted by key shot blocks from forwards Brandon Magee and Tim Traber. The game would remain scoreless heading into the first intermission.

The second period began much like the first with each team receiving several scoring opportunities. Hamilton came up with several key saves for the Royals, highlighted by a shoulder save on a point blank shot from the slot by Thunderbirds' forward Tyler Alos. Victoria's best scoring chance came when Robin Soudek took a hard shot from the slot that was gloved down by Pickard. Victoria's defence picked up in the second allowing only six shots while their offence put up 16 of their own. Neither team was able to capitalize and after two periods the score remained 0-0.

The Royals broke open the deadlock in the first minute of the third period after Kevin Sundher broke in alone shorthanded and flipped the puck over the left pad of Pickard at 23 seconds. The goal was Sundher's sixth of the year. On the same penalty kill 74 seconds later, Tim Traber received a 2-on-1 pass from Mike Forsyth and sent a shot over the right shoulder of Pickard to put the Royals up 2-0. The goal was Traber's first of the season. The Thunderbirds responded at 3:22, when a left point shot by Brad Deagle deflected off a Royals' defender into the top of the net. Seattle tied the game at 6:24 when Chance Lund hit Connor Sanvido with a breakaway pass before he fired a shot through the legs of Hamilton. The Thunderbirds took the lead 13 seconds later when Burke Gallimore finished off a 2-on-2 play. With 1:25 left and the goaltender pulled, Sundher potted his second of the night on a shot from the middle slot that trickled over the right shoulder of Pickard . After 60 minutes of play the score was tied 3-3.

With no scoring in the overtime period the game proceeded to a shootout. The Royals got on the board first when Robin Soudek beat Pickard high to the blocker side. Seattle would tie it up on their next attempt and secure the win when captain Luke Lockhart slid a shot through the five-hole of Hamilton in the sudden death round. Thunderbirds 4 Royals 3 in a shootout.

Victoria went 0/1 0.0% on the power play, while Seattle was 0/4 0.0%. Victoria outshot the Thunderbirds 37-33.

The Royals finish up their two-game set with the Seattle Thunderbirds tomorrow night at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. Victoria continues their seven game home stand at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre next Friday, November 4th against the Vancouver Giants. The action begins at 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 October 29, 2011


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