Prowling Cougars Pounce On Royals, 6-1

“We didn’t compete hard enough, they out battled us and that was the turning point in the game.” said Misskey, who’s been out since January 9^th.

The club was still without forward Reggie Newman and Robin Sapousek, while rearguards Ryan Spizawka and Hudson Bjornson remain sidelined. Alex Edwards served his final game of suspension.

During the contest forward Tanner Scott took a puck up high, and left the game in the first, but managed to return in the third after repairs, however was wearing a cage.

The teams were tied at 1-1 after a wild first period combining for 35 shots, including 19 saves from Royals netminder Braden Holt.

The Cougars, ranked first in the CHL, then struck with a pair of goals less than a minute apart in the middle frame, before tucking one in with less that :03 seconds to go in the frame to deflate the Royals by a 4-1 score heading to the final frame. Prince George added two more in the third, to cap off five unanswered.

Laventure beats Young. Credit: Wayne Beaton

Victoria pushed in the third, but Vancouver Canucks signed prospect Ty Young stonewalled them with 17 saves in the final frame alone, and 38 on the night.

Royals Head Coach James Patrick looked to the second period as one of the turning points, after the club played a decent second half of the first.

“The first seven minutes of the second period there was a lack of focus, energy, and attention to detail. And when you’re that loose on pucks and coverage, a good team like that is going to make you pay – and they did.”

The Royals also ran into penalty trouble, three times being called for high sticks, once for hooking, and once for boarding.

“The (lack) discipline that we showed in the second period was really disappointing.”

“Offensive zone penalties, stick penalties for no reason. You give them three power plays in the last eight minutes in the second, and you’re playing with fire.”

Scott with a cage. Credit: Wayne Beaton

The Cougars went 1 for 5 with their formidable power play that’s operating at 30% overall, while the Royals struck once on six chances.

“So when the score is 3-1 and you take penalty after penalty after penalty, we won’t have a chance to win if we don’t show more discipline, more smarts to our game.”

Without Newman, Ben Riche was elevated to Scott’s and Haugen-Evensen’s line, as the club dressed one short of a full line up, before losing Scott for most of the game, making them a three line team.

Tyson Laventure scored the lone tally for the Royals, who honoured their Billets in a pregame ceremony.

Reschny stopped by Young. Credit: Wayne Beaton

Victoria did well to stall the league’s goal leader Zach Funk at 64 tallies, but he chipped in with 2 helpers. Riley Heidt who’s second in overall assists with 75, was held to just 1. It was Captain Hudson Thornton who provided the offense from the back end, with a four point night, 2 goals and 2 assists and named the number one star.

“They won more 50/50 battles than us when the game was on the line.”

The Royals did gain some extended shifts in the offensive zone in the third, especially the line of Laventure, Cole Reschny and Dawson Pasternak.

“The third period when the score is 5-1, we had some zone time but when the game was on the line, we have to win some more battles and one on one competitive situations. If we do that, we have a chance to win.” added Patrick.

Victoria falls to winless in 5, but making matters worse was the Vancouver Giants won to leap frog the Royals, bouncing them down to 7^th in the West, and now a potential match up with the Winterhawks in the first round. However nothing is set in stone with 3 games remaining in a tight Conference race.

The Country Fest weekend continues in the rubber match Saturday night at 6pm.

by Marlon Martens

Prowling Cougars Pounce On Royals, 6-1

“We don’t have a chance to win the game against that team, if we play that way.” – HC James Patrick

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