The Kings injury woes continued, but in doing so created an unlikely hero on Saturday night as local goaltender Cam Stevenson, in the lineup as an emergency backup was thrust into action and steered the Kings to a 4-1 win over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs on Saturday night.
A good start to the game with a few chances both ways. The opening shift saw Ethan Kimball, Kevin Obssuth and Ben Thomas generate a sharp chance on net. However the story of the opening frame would be the forced goaltending change. With a few minutes left in the period, Bulldog forward Carter Harris and Kings defenceman Ben Raffler crashed into Mitch Adamyk on a chase for the puck. The collision bought Kings trainer Terry Dyer onto the ice, who after a brief evaluation motioned to the bench that Adamyk could not continue. Stevenson came onto the ice to a loud ovation and began preparing for the remaining 45 minutes.
The Kings would go to work, not only committing to an enhanced team defence, but also generating some run support for their new goaltender. Late in the period, a Mitch Williams drive down the right wing opened up a pass in front of the net that Ethan Kimball was able to push home for his 10th of the year and a 1-0 lead through 20. Shots 19-10 Powell River.
Into the 2nd and with Stevenson leading the Kings out from the room, it became clear that Adamyk would not return. Stevenson was forced to make some big saves with the Bulldogs pushing, but it was the Kings to double the lead as Gavin Rauser buried on a rebound to the side of the goal for his 10th and a 2-0 advantage.
The Bulldogs would get on the board late in the period as Jackson Doucet tipped a puck and bounced it past Stevenson for his 13th and it was 2-1 after 40. Shots 16-15 Powell River in the frame, 34-24 after 2.
Again more tests for Stevenson in the third, but the Kings did everything they could to make life easy for their new netminder. Pucks were quickly cleared and several great chances were closed down quickly. The Kings would put the game beyond reach with a pair of goals 12 seconds apart. First, Hunter Findlater sniped on a pick’n’roll off a faceoff win, then Carter Turnbull walked out from the corner on the ensuing shift. Findlater’s 14th and Turnbull’s 25th made it 4-1.
From there, the Kings defence and Stevenson did the rest, securing the victory and snapping a 5-game skid in the process by a 4-1 score. Stevenson stops 21 of 22 and picks up his first win in Junior hockey.
Here is our Facebook Live postgame show with Cam Stevenson and Kings Interim Head Coach Brock Sawyer
Three Stars of the Game
1. Cam Stevenson (Kings) – 21 saves, 1st win
2. Gavin Rauser (Kings) – 1 goal, 1 assist, GWG
3. Neal Samanski (Kings) – 1 assist
The Kings continue a seven game homestand next weekend, beginning with a Friday night contest against the Merritt Centennials on Friday night.
