The Kings wrapped the first half of the BCHL schedule with a 6-6 tie against the West Kelowna Warriors on Sunday afternoon.
A great start from the Kings as they opened the scoring just 4:18 in through Kyle Kawamura to make it 1-0. From there, the teams traded goals as Willie Reim converted on a powerplay for the Warriors before Jonny Evans buried just after a 5-on-3 expired for the Kings for a powerplay goal of his own, his 8th and a 2-1 game. The Kings looked set to take that lead into the intermission, however Jake Harrison tied the game at 2 with just 13 seconds left. Shots on goal in the period 12-10 Powell River.
Into the 2nd and it was again the Kings to push first. This time Ben Berard latches onto a good feed from Ben Thomas to snipe from low in the zone and give the Kings a 3-2 advantage. The goal tied Berard with Carter Turnbull for the lead in goals with 18, while also registering Thomas’ first BCHL point. Hunter Findlater doubled the lead 3 minutes later after Berard walked off the corner boards and created a rebound opportunity and it was 4-2. The goal gives Findlater the first 3-game goal streak of his Junior career.
West Kelowna would get one back midway through the period through Max Bulawka to make it 4-3 into the 2nd break. Kings outshot 12-6 in the period but leading on the scoreboard.
Into the third and the Kings came out hard. Jonny Evans scored on a redirect in front to restore a 2-goal advantage, before Kyle Kawamura game the Kings their 15th 3-goal lead of the season to make it 6-3. Coming into action, the Kings were 14-0 when leading by 3.
Cue the Warrior comeback. First at 12:23 as Chase Dubois cut the lead to 6-4, before the Warriors pulled the goaltender for the extra attacker and scored a pair through Michael Lombardi and Jared Marino to send the game to overtime. Shots on goal in the third were 21-10 Warriors.
Overtime saw chances galore both ways with Matteo Paler-Chow making several key stops as the Kings were outshot 6-3 in the period. The two best chances however went the way of Powell River as Kyle Kawamura had a breakaway denied by goaltender Cole Demers, while Jonny Evans and Ben Berard ran out of time on a 2-on-0 at the death of double overtime to close the game, and the pre-Christmas schedule notted at 6.
Final shots on goal were 49-31 for West Kelowna. That is a season high against for the Kings, eclisping the 45 against Langley at the start of December. Matteo Paler-Chow has his 2nd tie of the season as his record moves to 8-7-2, stopping 43 shots.
Here’s what Brock Sawyer had to say in the post-game show:
The Kings are now off on Christmas break, and return ahead of a December 29th game against the Nanaimo Clippers at the Hap Parker Arena. Game time is 5:00pm.
