Stefan Wornig recorded his 3rd win against the Bulldogs this season and his 2nd shutout, turning aside 26 shots and backstopping the Kings to a 5-0 win on New Years Eve.
- Lets start with the video above and Josh Coblenz first BCHL goal. The affiliate out of Campbell River was buzzing all night and seamlessly filled in for Mitchell Hawes on the team’s 3rd line with Austin Kamer and Chris Protopoulos. As Brock Sawyer points out in the post game show (video below), it’s just reward for a player who has had a couple of bad weather-related breaks in bids to get him in the lineup and some experience this season.
- Now the elephant in the room. Back the game up a minute or so and you get a waved off goal for the Bulldogs. Nathan Dingmann gets a shot through Stefan Wornig that ends up in the paint and is poked home by Liam Conrad. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, the low referee blew his whistle as the puck darted out and Conrad’s poke home was for nought. Was the right call made on the ice? Absolutely. The referee blew play dead before the puck crossed the goal line. Was there an early whistle? Absolutely. Was it a tough break for the Bulldogs? Absolutely. You could tell by the referees reaction as he skated to the Bulldogs bench that he knew there had been an error.
- 4 goals on 12 shots through the 2nd period blew the game wide open. Rylan Ball early, rounded off by Gavin Rauser on the powerplay late and it was a complete period offensively. Not total domination, the Bulldogs outshot the Kings in the frame, but every chance that was afforded the Kings was finished on…something that we haven’t been able to say much this season.
- I like the fact that every line chipped in. Mullin-Betts-Lawson threatened, Mullin had the fight in the 3rd and Betts just did Kyle Betts things. Leipsic-Evans-Turnbull got on the scoresheet and drew a penalty with some speed and moving their feet. Kamer-Coblenz-Protopoulos got on the scoresheet and were difficult to play against and Rauser-Findlater-McCarrick also scored while getting some increased responsibility, powerplay time and praise from both Kent Lewis pre-game, and Brock Sawyer after as well for a successful pair of games.
- On Jeremey Leipsic, here’s his goal from the 2nd period. Equally exquisite is both the finish from Leipsic after some missed chances over the last few weeks, and Andy Stevens stretch pass from his own zone.
- Stefan Wornig is Bulldog cryponite. He’s now 3-6, with all three wins coming against the Bulldogs and two via shutout. 3-0, 0.33GAA, .989sv%. Wornig’s season GAA drops to 2.71 from 3.04 with the shutout as well. He ties Jeff Smith with 2 shutouts on the year and also pulls level with the veteran in the Kings goaltender scoring race with an assist on Leipsic’s goal.
- Overall the Kings are 4-0 against Alberni, outscoring the team 20-2 in the process.
- The final game of 2015 rounds out our look back at the calendar year. The team went 31-21-1-3 from January to December, 46/227 (20.26%) on the powerplay with 7 multi-goal games and 160/198 (80.80%) on the kill with 27 clean sheets.
- The win also jumps the Kings up to 2nd spot in the Island Division standings thanks to an idle Cowichan Valley on Thursday night. The Kings are 1 up on Cowichan with 1 in hand and 9 back of Nanaimo with 2 in hand.
Here’s Josh Coblenz and Brock Sawyer in the post-game show:
Three Stars of the Game
- Stefan Wornig (Kings) – 36 saves, 2nd career shutout
- Andy Stevens (Kings) – 2 assists
- Josh Coblenz (Kings) – 1 goal, game winner
The Kings rest on New Years Day before getting set for a top of the table clash with the Nanaimo Clippers on Saturday and Sunday. The pair of games will kick off a 3 game in 8 day set between Powell River and Nanaimo, after not meeting for 101 days (September 19th). The Kings are 2-1 against Nanaimo this season.
We’re down to the final few days of the 2015/2016 Powell River Kings Dream Lottery!
Ticket sales are strong, but there are still a few left…and your chance to grab them is running out. Tickets will be available at the Kings office until the end of the 1st intermission during Sunday January 3rd’s game against the Nanaimo Clippers. Ticket booths are also set up at the Town Centre Mall (between Walmart and People’s Jewelers), Canadian Tire and Safeway ahead of Sunday’s game.
Online tickets are still available, you can go to http://www.prkingsdreamlottery.ca to purchase, however ticket sales through the website will be shut down at 10:00pm on Saturday January 2nd. Tickets are $100 each.
The 50/50 Jackpot is surging, and currently sits at over $39,000, with the winner taking half. 50/50 Tickets are available when you purchase a Dream Lottery ticket, and are $20 each.
All information, prize lists, rules and regulations are online at http://www.prkingsdreamlottery.ca. The team will conduct the draw during the 2nd Intermission of Sunday’s game against the Nanaimo. It’ll be broadcast live on the Network, 95.7 CoastFM and FastHockey PPV as well.
