Gutsy Weekend In Prince George

 The Victoria Royals played a pair of games this weekend in Prince George.  The Royals were looking to continue the momentum they started after their emotional home opener win.

Friday Night's Game

  Keith Hamilton started in goal for the Royals, and Drew Owsley countered for the Cougars.  Prince George wasted no time to take control of the game early.  They came fast and often at the Royals to begin the first.  Tim Traber dropped the gloves with Brock Hirsche just 21 seconds into the game.  Traber got the decision as he continues to be an intimidating force for the Royals.  At the 5:08 mark of the first, Jarrett Fontaine opened the scoring for the Cougars.  Cody Carlson and Spencer Asuchak drew the assists on the goal.  It took the Cougars only 1:29 to get on the board again.  Troy Bourke took a feed from Charles Inglis to give Prince George a 2-0 lead.  Logan Nelson answered for the Royals, as he potted one at the 7:54 mark.  Zane Jones and Tim Traber were credited with the assists.  The Cougars continued to pepper the Royals net with shots, but Hamilton was able to hold the Cougars off.  Victoria finally drew even on a goal by Robin Soudek.  Kevin Sundher and Brandon Magee got the assists of the goal scored at the 13:48 mark.  The Royals finished the first period tied with the Cougars 2-2.  The Royals were out shot 15-9 in the first frame. 

  The Cougars continued to push the pace to open the second period, but Hamilton continued to stand tall.  Brandon Magee scored at the 4:22 mark to give the Royals their first lead of the game.  Kevin Sundher and Robin Soudek got the assists.  The momentum stayed in the Cougars favor after the Royals goal, as they continued to dominate the offense play.  Prince George was finally rewarded for their efforts, as Charles Inglis tied the game at 3s.  Nick Buonassaisi and Daniel Gibb were given the assist on the goal scored at the 12:52 mark of the middle frame.  The Cougars continued to take it to the Royals in the second period, but Keith Hamilton continued to keep his team in it.  The Royals and Cougars ended the second period tied at 3.  Victoria was out shot 19-5 in the period.

   Victoria continued to play in their own zone in the early moments of the third period.  While killing a penalty, Steven Hodges intercepted the puck and beat Owsley for a shorthanded goal.  The shorthanded marker was scored at the 7:34 mark.  Prince George continued their dominating play throughout the third, and finally found the mark. With just 38 seconds left, Alex Forsberg scored to tie the game.  Cody Carlson and Martin Marincin were credited with the assists.  The period ended with both teams tied at 4.  Prince George out shot Victoria 16-9 in the third period.

  The Royals controlled the play in the overtime frame, but were unable to get one past Owsley.  Prince George out shot the Royals 2-1 in the frame.

  The shootout started with Prince George getting the first shot.  Alex Forsberg skated in on the Royals net, but Hamilton made the save.  Kevin Sundher was up next for the Royals, and Sundher scored to put the Royals ahead.  Up next was Troy Bourke for the Cougars.  Bourke's shot got through Hamilton but hit the post.  Robin Soudek was up next and could win the game with a goal.  Soudek skated in and wired a shot past Owsley to give The Royals their first ever shootout win.  Keith Hamilton made 48 saves, plus 2 shootout saves for the win.




Saturday's Game


  Braden Gamble started in net for the Royals, and Drew Owsley started for the second night in a row for the Cougars.  The Royals were all over the Cougars to start the game.  Just 47 seconds in, Kade Pilton scored on the powerplay for Victoria.  Hayden Rintoul and Kevin Sundher assisted on Pilton's goal.  The Royals continued the strong play as Jamie Crooks scored at the 8:26 mark to give Victoria a 2-0 lead.  Steven Hodges and Logan Nelson were credited with the assists.  Hayden Rintoul then made it 3-0 after scoring on the powerplay.  Kevin Sundher and Brandon Magee got the helpers on the goal scored at the 9:23 mark.  Victoria kept the momentum going as they started to cycle the puck around the Cougar's zone very well.  Jamie Crooks scored his second goal of the night for the Royals at the 16:31 mark.  Logan Nelson and Steven Hodges drew the assists.  Devon Fordyce would relieve Drew Owsley in the Cougars' goal.  The Royals left the first period with a 4-0 lead, outshooting Prince George 13-9 in the first. 

  Just over four minutes into the second, Royals history was made as Jamie Crooks scored to become the first Royals player to get a hat trick.  Logan Nelson got the lone assist on the goal scored at the 4:44 mark.  Troy Bourke would answer for the Cougars with a shorthanded goal.  Spencer Asuchak and Martin Marincin got the assist on the shorthanded marker scored at 6:31 of the second.  The Cougars would then get their first powerplay goal of the season on a goal by Charles Inglis.  Alex Forsberg got the assist on the special teams goal scored at the 11:04 mark.  The Royals would push back to finish the period.  Kevin Sundher would stop the Prince George momentum, with a goal scored at the 17:38 mark.  Brandon Magee and Kade Pilton assisted on Sundher's goal.  Victoria lead 6-2 after the second.  PG out shot Victoria 9-5 in the middle frame.

  The third period started out slow.  That is until Spencer Asuchak was kicked out of the game for elbowing Tyler Stahl in the head.  Stahl was slow to get up and looked worse for wear.  The Cougars would pull within three again as Nick Buonassisi scored.  Joshua Smith and Greg Fraser assisted on the goal scored at the 12:01 mark.  Pince George would inch even closer as Greg Fraser would score on the powerplay.  Martin Marincin and Nick Buonassisi assisted on the goal scored at the 14:39 point of the third.  The Cougars would pull within one shortly after as Jake Mykitiuk shot one past Gamble.  Alex Forsberg got the only assist on the goal scored at the 15:50 mark.  The Royals would fend of the Cougars and win thegame 6-5.  PG out shot Victoria 30-29 in the game.

  Both games were ugly road wins, but they were wins.  The second game meltdown will be a lesson for these young players.  It may not have been pretty this weekend, but these young kids put on a hell of a show and came out of the games with 4 points.  The Royals' next game is Thursday against Medicine Hat.


Top Three Players of the Weekend


Keith Hamilton- I know he only played one game, but he absolutely stole the second straight game for the Royals.  He continues to keep his team in the game no matter the shot difference. Hamilton is starting to show the poise and leadership to be a true number one goalie for the Royals.  If the Royals defense can clamp down on the shots, watch for Hamilton to have a very good season.


Kevin Sundher-  Sundher continues to dominate for the Royals.  He continues to use his size, strength and speed to continuously make scoring opportunities.  He finished the weekend with 1 goal and 4 assists.  After being shut out in the season opener, Sundher has been dominant all over the ice for the Royals.  Sundher continues to rack up the points and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.

Jamie Crooks/ Logan Nelson- Yeah I cheated, sue me.  Jamie Crooks got the Royals first ever hat trick in Saturday's game, and Nelson finished with a goal and 3 assists over the two games.  Nelson assisted on all three of Crooks' hat trick goals.  The two played very well together and seemed to feed off each other's energy.  It will be fun to watch these two guys on the same line for future games.