Royals Mount Big Comeback to Down Rockets

  The Royals gave their fans quite the roller coaster ride Friday night.  There was a WHL milestone for a player, a good scrap, and a whole lot of scoring. They would trail by 3 goals at one point, but they would dig deep and pull out a W.  This is the first of back-to-back nights hosting the Kelowna Rockets.

                                                          First Period
  Keith Hamilton got the start in goal for the Royals, and Adam Brown responded for the Rockets.  Robin Soudek would open the scoring for the Royals at the 5:32 mark.  Austin Carroll and Kevin Sundher assisted on Soudek's goal, his 6th of the season.  The Rockets would start to push back shortly after Soudek's goal.  Kelowna's push would be rewarded when they were given a powerplay, due to a Kade Pilton tripping penalty.  On that powerplay, Spencer Main would get his 4th goal of the season.  Myles Bell and Damon Severson would get the assists on the goal scored at the 9:43 mark.  Kelowna would continue their strong play after that power play goal, and Colton Heffley would give the Rockets a 2-1 lead at the 12:02 mark.  Damon Severson and Tanner Moar would draw the assists.  The Royals would tie it up at the 14:55 mark off a goal by Robin Soudek, his second of the night.  Kevin Sundher and Jesse Zgraggen were credited with the assists.  Kelowna would get another powerplay opportunity, and they would make it count again.  Jesse Lees would get the powerplay goal, assisted by Myles Bell and Shane McColgan, at the 16:43 mark.  The Rockets would leave the first period with a 3-2 lead.  Victoria was out shot 16-11 in the first.


                                                         Second Period
   Kelowna and Victoria would play a more even game in the second, but it was Kelowna who was able to extend their lead.  Colton Sissons would get his 5th goal of the year at the 4:35 mark.  Shane McColgan and Damon Severson got the assists.  Just seconds after that goal, Colten Martin would get a boarding call which Austin Carroll took exception to.  Carroll and Martin would drop the gloves to intensify the physicality of the game.  Kelowna would get another powerplay, and once again they would make it count.  Myles Bell would get the extra man goal, his 2nd goal of the year.  Filip Vasko and Spencer Main drew the assists on the goal scored at the 6:42 mark.  Zane Jones would pull the Royals within two goals with a goal of his own, his first career WHL goal.  Jamie Crooks got the lone assist, the goal was scored at the 8:35 mark.  The Royals would trail 5-3 after the second.  Both teams ended up with 8 shots a piece in the 2nd.

                                                           Third Period

  Zane Jones would continue his strong play, as he would pot his second goal of the night 4:44 into the final frame.  The Royals pushed back hard trying to get back into the game.  The Royals would finally capitalize on a powerplay opportunity at the 11:17 mark of the third.  Jamie Crooks' powerplay marker would tie the game up at 5.  Robin Soudek and Kade Pilton were given the assists.  After serving a penalty for Hooking, Lukas Kralik would come out of the penalty box and score on a breakaway giving the Royals a 6-5 lead.  Steven Hodges threw the puck up for Kralik, getting the lone assist on the go-ahead goal scored at the 14:27 mark.  Hamilton would make a couple key saves to keep the Rockets at bay.  Logan Nelson would get the insurance goal with an empty netter at the 19:08 mark.  The Royals went on to win 7-5.  VIC out shot KEL 15-3 in the third, and 34-27 overall.

Top Three Royals Players

Keith Hamilton-  He may have let in 5 goals, but he also made some key saves late to keep his team in it.  A couple of the goals against were flukes, and he didn't look terrible.  He only faced 3 shots in the final period but they were all key saves.  It was an ok outing by him statistics wise, but all in all he kept his team in it.

Zane Jones- Zane potted his first 2 career WHL goals tonight.  They were big goals considering he scored two in a row and started the comeback parade for the Royals.  He used his big frame to power himself to the net and was no slouch in his own zone.  Congrats to Zane on a milestone game.

Robin Soudek- Soudek has been playing strong all season.  Soudek finished tonight's game with 2 goals and an assist.  He is playing at just over a point per game pace.  He continues to be a veteran presence for the Royals.  Great game tonight by Soudek as he also finished with a +2 rating.


  The Royals and Rockets will got at it again tomorrow night.  Puck drop is at 7:05.