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Victoria Royals

Royals Fall Short against Hurricanes

February 28, 2013 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Victoria Royals News Release


Victoria, BC - In a Wednesday night matchup the Victoria Royals welcomed the Lethbridge Hurricanes to Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre as both teams looked to end six-game losing streaks. Victoria gave Patrik Polivka the start in net, while Lethbridge countered with Ty Rimmer.

Lethbridge opened the scoring with two quick goals 18 seconds apart at 5:16 and 5:34 of the first period from Jamal Watson and Jamien Yakubowski respectively. The first Hurricanes goal came when Watson accepted a Reid Duke pass in the high slot and one-timed a shot that beat Polivka inside the right post for the 1-0 lead. The second Lethbridge tally came when Brady Ramsay entered the Royals' zone along the left wing before he centered a pass to Jamien Yakubowski. The Hurricanes' leading scorer made a move to his backhand and slid the puck under the pads of the Royals' netminder. Sam McKechnie then extended Lethbridge's lead to 3-0 with a powerplay strike at 7:11. Coleman Vollrath entered the game in relief of Polivka after the third Hurricanes goal. The goaltender change sparked the Royals as Logan Nelson potted his 18th goal of the season at 7:48. The Rogers, MN native made a wrap-around attempt that redirected off of a Lethbridge player and snuck past Rimmer to cut the lead to 3-1. Victoria would climb to within one goal while on a five-on-three advantage late in the frame when Nelson scored his second of the night. Nelson accepted a feed from defenceman Brett Cote before he hammered a shot from the left face-off dot over the glove of the Lethbridge goaltender at 19:27. The Hurricanes held a 3-2 advantage as an eventful first period came to a close.

Victoria would even the score at 9:32 of the second period with a powerplay marker from Jordan Fransoo. After he accepted a pass from Cote at the left faceoff circle, Fransoo unleashed a wrist shot that whistled over the glove of Rimmer for his sixth tally of the season. Adam Henry regained the lead for Lethbridge at the 15:25 mark of the middle frame. Henry crossed the Royals' blueline alone before he fired a quick shot from the left wing that fooled Vollrath and trickled between his legs. Victoria made a late charge in the period with a five-on-three powerplay, but the Hurricanes held the Royals off and took a 4-3 lead into the second intermission.

Lethbridge increased their lead to 5-3 with a shorthanded effort at 7:19 of the final period. Russell Maxwell broke into the Victoria zone on a two-on-one rush before he fed a pass to Watson who slipped a shot under the left leg of Vollrath. With the extra attacker on the ice, Victoria pulled to within one goal when Jamie Crooks jammed a shot past Rimmer from the top of the crease with just 27 seconds remaining in the game. As the final seconds ticked away, the Royals nearly tied the game when Nelson ripped a shot off the left post, but the puck stayed out and the Hurricanes escaped with the victory. Lethbridge 5 Victoria 4.

Victoria went 2/8 25.0% on the powerplay while Lethbridge was 1/3 33.3%. The Royals outshot the Hurricanes 46-26.

Victoria 's next home game is Friday, March 1st when they welcome the Spokane Chiefs to Save-On-Foods Memorial Center for the first of a weekend doubleheader. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m.

We are Royal Blue! Are you? Guarantee yourself the best seats for upcoming Royals games by visiting www.selectyourtickets.com, calling 250-220-7777 or visiting the Select Your Tickets box-office at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Mini-Packs, Vouchers and special rates for groups of 10+ are available by visiting www.victoriaroyals.com or calling 250-220-7889.

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