The Kings have wrapped the home portion of the BCHL regular season schedule with a wildy entertaining and emotional game at Hap Parker Arena, that saw the Kings win 3-2 in front of the largest crowd of the season.
A choppy start to the game that saw the Kings edge ahead in shots but were unable to get clear cut opportunities on goaltender Cole Demers. The games first real scoring opportunity went to Powell River as Mitch Williams and Levi Glasman went to work along the goal line and got a puck out to the slot for Ben Thomas to snap home his 11th of the season and a 1-0 advantage.
On the next shift, the Bulldogs went to the powerplay and cashed in on their first chance of the game as Josh Zary got a weird one. After a shot from the point, the puck deflected and bounced off the top of the net, back out in front and allowed Zary to beat Jayden Lee to it, his 3rd and a 1-1 game through 20 minutes with the Kings edging Alberni in shots 11-10.
The 2nd period saw another early Powell River goal, this time Ethan Schmunk the benefactor of a forecheck and puck pursuit from Levi Glasman, getting it in front of the goal where Thomas had half a chance, but it was Schmunk to sweep past Demers for his 11th of the year and a 2-1 lead. However as like in the first period, the very next shift the Bulldogs get it right back as Michael Hodge is able to reel in and snap home a shot on Adamyk for his 10th and a 2-2 score.
It stayed that way despite emotions beginning to ramp up, until Ryan Brushett got the go ahead goal by deflecting a Ben Wozney point shot and getting it to slide through Demers for Brushett’s league-leading 41st of the year and a 3-2 Kings lead. Emotions began to fray as the Kings took exception to a couple of hits and jabs after the whistle, many of which saw the Kings shorthanded.
No scoring in the third, despite the best efforts, in particular Ben Berard who returned in the game from an injury sustained in October. Berard skated freely, dangled past 3 Bulldogs and the goaltender, but wasn’t able to beat the base of the post for a potential goal of the year contender. Overall, the chippy play continued from both teams, reaching a boiling point where as the final buzzer sounded and secured a 3-2 Powell River win, Bulldog forward Ryan Miotto slashed Christian Buono on the legs as he skated by, with the two eventually dropping the gloves after the final buzzer. The Kings win 3-2 and keep their faint 1st place hopes alive. Mitch Adamyk stops 27 for his 24th win of the season in his 98th game as a Powell River King.
Here is our Facebook Live Postgame Show with Brock Sawyer:
https://www.facebook.com/powellriverkings/videos/246813032930264/
The Kings wrap the regular season on the road in Nanaimo on Saturday night, before visiting Alberni on Sunday afternoon. With Victoria’s win over the Clippers on Friday night, Powell River must win both their remaining games and hope that Victoria fall on Sunday against Cowichan in regulation.
