It was retro night at the Hap on Saturday and happy days are here again.
Kings celebrated a whole bunch of stuff on Saturday and ended it with a sweet 4-2 win over the Vernon Vipers.
The night started off with a much deserved ceremony and banner raising for the volunteer of volunteers – Joe Mastrodonato, who along with 1,000 plus fans were thrilled with the Kings' retro jerseys that they wore for the game.
The ceremony featured many of the original Paper Kings who were on hand to witness and congratulate Mastrodonato who brought the franchise to Powell River and continues to work very hard for the club in his role as Governor and master fundraiser.
Kings and Vipers started the game going back and forth but sparkplug Teagan Waugh turned it into a one man show early when he took a rebound off the backboards from Brandan Smith and tucked it into the net behind Halcrow at 12:53 of the first period.
He got his second at 4:02 of the next period when he drilled a shot high into the top corner – glove side on the powerplay and the Kings were cruising 2-0 over the Vipers.
Disaster struck – twice – with 16 seconds to go in the second when Maguire got crossed up behind his net and the puck came out to Aaron Hadley who had a clear shot at 19:44.
The with one second left in the period Zalewski took a centering pass and before the Kings could blink the game was tied at the end of two periods.
Obviously there were some choice words between periods and the Kings, not wanting to let Vernon ruin another celebration broke the tie in the second half of the period.
Daniel Schuler let a wrist shot go from the right circle that got the top corner blocker side on Halcrow at 13:39 and then a minute and a half later Steven Schmidt tipped in the insurance goal at 15:07.
That was all they needed to put the game away and the Kings succeeded in exorcising some demons by beating Vernon 4-2.
Despite his hiccup in the second Sean Maguire had a great game with 25 saves and a couple of them in spectacular fashion.
Several players stood out for the Kings but Brendon MacDonald had fans on their feet with his scrap with the bigger Geoff Crisfield.
Cohen Adair didn't hit the scoreboard but he dazzled the fans on several occasions with his stickhanding, particularly when he was down on the ice, kicked the puck onto his stick and played keepaway with several of the Vipers.
Nice too, to see Schuler return to form with his speed and seeing eye wrist shots and particularly the game winner in the third.
Chris Williams was a force all night and he scared several of the Vipers with some big hits and some near misses in open ice.
All in all, a great effort and a lot of fun at the Hap for the big crowd on hand to cheer the Kings and Mastrodonato on.
And let's not forget Elise Statham who worked tirelessly to put it all together for a great night for everyone there.
Still working long after the fans had left the building, all she could muster was an "I'm pooped.
Way to go Elise.
Ron Armitage Mens Wear Three Stars:
1. Teagan Waugh
2. Evan Richardson
3. Darren Nowick
