ROYALS TRIPPED UP BY ICE

Victoria has five-game winning streak stopped in 5-1 loss to Kootenay.

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Cranbrook, BC – In a Wednesday night matchup the Victoria Royals travelled to Cranbrook to take on the Kootenay Ice at Western Financial Place. Patrik Polivka was sent in to defend the goal for Victoria, while Kootenay countered with Mackenzie Skapski.

The two teams played tough, solid defence through the first half of the opening frame as they limited their opponent’s offensive chances. The Ice opened the scoring on a goal from Tanner Muth at the 16:13 mark. Kootenay’s Jaedon Descheneau dropped a pass to Muth at the right point and the defenceman released a quick shot that sailed over the glove of a screened Polivka. The Royals’ best opportunity came when Tim Traber split two defencemen and attempted to chip the puck over the netminder, but Skapski flashed the glove. After 20 minutes of play, the Ice held a 1-0 advantage.

Kootenay doubled their lead at the 3:00 mark of the second period. Dirk Jagger accepted a pass in the high slot and fired a shot on net. Polivka made the initial stop, but the puck rebounded to the right face-off circle where Sam Reinhart snapped a shot into the empty net for a 2-0 lead. Victoria made a late push, but Skapski turned aside each opportunity and the Royals headed into the second intermission down by a pair of goals.

Brock Montgomery added a third goal for the ice at 4:19 of the third period. Montgomery weaved his way into the high slot before he let go a wrist shot high over the glove of Polivka. At the 4:54 mark, Descheneau increased the home team’s lead to 4-0. Descheneau eluded a Victoria defender in the slot before the 17-year-old threw a wrist shot on net that fooled the Victoria netminder to the stick side. Coleman Vollrath then relieved Polivka between the pipes for the Royals. The goaltending change seemed to spark Victoria as Steven Hodges got the visitors on the scoreboard at the 8:05 mark. Hodges entered the Kootenay zone along the right wing before he crossed into the high slot and unleashed a hard wrist shot that beat Skapski top corner on the glove side. Descheneau’s second goal of the night came at the 16:36 mark after a goal mouth scramble and increased Kootenay’s lead to 5-1. The lead would prove insurmountable for the Royals who fell for the first time in their past six games. Kootenay 5 Victoria 1.

Victoria went 0/3 = 0.0% on the powerplay while Kootenay was 0/4 = 0.0%. The Royals outshot the Ice 31-28.

Victoria now heads to Alberta to play three games in three nights beginning on Friday, February, 16th against the Red Deer Rebels. The Royals next home game is Friday, February 22nd when the host the Kelowna Rockets for a two-game weekend set at Save-On-Foods Memorial Center.

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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