ROYALS TAKE DOWN BLAZERS
ROYALS TAKE DOWN BLAZERS
Polivka stops 34 shots for Victoria in 6-1 win over Kamloops.
For Immediate Release
Friday, November 22, 2013
Victoria, BC – On Friday night at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, the Victoria Royals hosted the Kamloops Blazers in the first of a two-game series. The Royals gave Patrik Polivka the start, while the Blazers answered with Taran Kozun.
The first period began with a showcase of physical play as big hits were exchanged between the two teams as soon as the puck was dropped. The Royals’ best chance of the frame came when Brandon Magee rushed down the wing and fired a wrist shot that beat Kozun, but deflected off the goal post. The Royals’ penalty kill was challenged late in the first when they were tasked with a five-on-three disadvantage, but Polivka helped the unit keep the game a scoreless draw after 20 minutes.
Victoria opened the scoring at the 15:21 mark of the second period. Ryan Gagnon’s shot from the point deflected off of Logan Fisher and Taylor Crunk buried the loose puck to tally his first goal of the season. Less than one minute later, the Royals added to their lead. Logan Nelson fired a backhand shot on net that Kozun stopped, but Ben Walker slipped the rebound over the goal line to give Victoria a two-goal lead. Kamloops’ Chase Souto managed to sneak one past Polivka with one second left in the period and the Royals held a 2-1 lead into the second intermission.
The Royals regained their two-goal lead 5:10 into the final stanza when Brandon Magee snapped a shot over the glove of Kozun. Just 34 seconds later, Nelson made a nifty spin move in the slot and slid the puck past Kozun’s left pad to give the Royals a 4-1 lead. Bolton Pouloit then relieved Kozun of his duties in the Blazers’ crease. At the 7:54 mark, Austin Carroll converted on a powerplay breakaway to stretch the home team’s advantage. The Royals didn’t stop and a good effort by newly-acquired Axel Blomqvist behind the net saw the forward give a perfect feed to Brandon Fushimi in the slot that he wired past Pouliot and into the top corner at 12:25. Polivka continued his strong play in net and the Royals held on the rest of the way for the commanding victory. VIC 6 KAM 1.
Victoria went 1/4 = 25.0% on the powerplay, while Kamloops went 0/3 = 0.0%. The Blazers outshot the Royals 35-33.
The Royals and Blazers will conclude their two-game set tomorrow evening at 7:05 p.m. at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.
Give the gift of hockey this holiday season by purchasing a Royals Holiday Combo or an Island Savings Kids Club membership! The Holiday Combo, available for $60, includes four anytime ticket vouchers and a gift. Kids Club memberships, for fans 12 years and younger, are available for only $20 and include four child tickets, a t-shirt, newsletters from Marty the Marmot and much more!
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