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Kings season ends with double-overtime game 7 loss

The Powell River Kings and Victoria Grizzlies needed double overtime of game 7 to decide the Island Division Champion. Unfortunately for the Kings, Keyvan Mokhtari was the hero as he scored 57 seconds into double overtime to end the Kings season.

Curtis McCarrick opened the scoring in game 7 on the power play. Cam Donaldson tried to hit Ben Berard back door from the left circle, but it deflected right to McCarrick on Matthew Galajda’s blocker side and McCarrick chipped in his fourth of the playoffs.

Later in the fist, Gavin Rauser threw the biggest hit of the night when he smashed Brett Stirling into the boards behind the Grizzlies net, popping the visor of Stirling’s helmet.

Both teams had excellent chances throughout the period and Victoria tied the game in the final minute.

Cole Pickup went on the forecheck and found the puck below the goal line. He then fired a no-look backhand pass to the slot, right onto the tape of Jamie Rome who beat Brian Wilson blocker side to make it 1-1 after one period.

There were no goals scored through the next two periods, though the Grizzlies nearly ended the game in the final seconds.

A shot came from the left point by Van Leirop that Wilson kicked away with his right pad, but the rebound went right to Pickup waiting at the side of the net.

Wilson stabbed out his right leg once again and robbed Pickup of the potential game-winning goal with just seconds left on the clock, sending the game to overtime in the process.

While both teams had plenty of chances over the first 20 minutes of overtime, neither could find the back of the net and double overtime was required for the second time in the series.

Unfortunately for the Kings, their season came to an end just 57 seconds into double overtime. The Grizzlies got the puck in the neutral zone after a pass from Stirling and came in three-on-two.

Mokhtari carried the puck in the middle over the line and held on until he got to the hashmarks before firing a wrist shot over the glove of Wilson to send the Grizzlies to the third round.

The loss ended the junior careers of Jake Kohlhauser, Johan Steen, Wilson, Tristan Mullin, Liam Lawson and McCarrick, who graduate as members of the Kings.

The Powell River Kings thank everyone for their support over the course of the 2016-17 season, and look forward to hitting the Hap Parker Arena ice next year when the quest for a BCHL championship continues.