Wild, Kings Need Overtime to Settle Trail Tournament Opener
September 1, 2011 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
TRAIL, British Columbia - TheWenatchee Wild and Powell River Kings needed overtime Thursday to determine awinner in the opening game of the Trail Smoke Eaters' preseason exhibitiontournament at Cominco Arena in Trail, British Columbia. In the end it was the Kings, winners of the 2009, 2010 and 2011 BCHL Coastal Conference, who earned a6-5 overtime victory.
Wenatchee trailed Powell River2-0 four minutes into the first period, but settled down and managed to hold a3-2 lead after 20 minutes of play on goals from Matt Cope, Brendan Vetterand Trevor Stewart.
The Kings scored a pair ofmarkers in the second period, but Stewart's second goal of the game, this oneduring a man-advantage late in the second stanza, deadlocked the score, 4-4.
Powell River took the lead earlyin the third frame, but Shawn Pauly'sgoal near the 50th minute of the contest forced a 5-5 tie that sawthe game extend into overtime. The Kings notched the game-winner two minutesand three seconds into the extra session.
In spite of the loss, Wild headcoach John Becanic was pleased withhis team's play.
"I like how we responded," hesaid, after watching his team fall behind 2-0 early in the first period. "Itwas disappointing to lose. We put ourselves in position to win it, but it was agood first game for our guys against a very good team."
Wild netminder Greg Lewis made 20 saves in the loss.Wenatchee put 45 shots on net. The Wild scored one power-play goal on fivechances while the Kings went 1-for-2 on the man-advantage.
Stewart (2G, 1A) and Cope (1G,1A) recorded multi-point games for Wenatchee.
The Wild will take on the BrooksBandits of the AJHL at 3 p.m. Friday and will conclude the tournament with a1:30 p.m. contest against the host Smoke Eaters on Saturday.
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