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Powell River Kings coach irate over dirty play

Kent Lewis criticizes BC Hockey League for not protecting its players
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PAYBACK TIME: Powell River Kings Tristan Mullin drops the gloves to fight after a questionable hit by Nanaimo on teammate Kyle Betts. Kings coach Kent Lewis is calling on the BCHL to protect its players. Alicia Baas photo

Going into a two-game homestand after a 10-day break, Powell River Kings were a little rusty, but it wasn’t just the lacklustre play that stuck in the craw of head coach Kent Lewis.

Kings won both games against possible first-round BC Hockey League playoff opponent Nanaimo Clippers, 5-1 on Friday, February 17, and 4-1 the following night, but not without some dirty play in Saturday night’s game.

Kings had to play tough, said Lewis, with 58 minutes in penalties called by a young officiating crew; 30 minutes against Nanaimo and 28 against Powell River. Lewis said his definition of tough is different than some of the teams the Kings may face in the playoffs.

“If you want to play tough hockey, we played it,” said Lewis. “You defend teammates. You don’t play dirty. You play the game properly.”

The coach’s anger stemmed from an incident in the first period of Saturday’s game when Kings forward Kyle Betts took a high cross-check after a whistle stopped play.

“Tough is not cross-checking a guy with deliberate attempt toward the head or the neck area, and breaking a stick over a neck,” he said. “That’s not tough. That’s juvenile, delinquent and criminal.”

Lewis said it was a shame and an absolute failure on the league not to protect the safety of its players.

“I’m ashamed, embarrassed and disgusted,” said Lewis. He added that the dangerous and dirty play should be addressed at the highest level of the league.

Dirty play has happened too often this season, according to Lewis, with teams targeting good players.

“If I’m a good player in this league, I’ll take getting hit hard,” said Lewis. “But when we see what we saw on Saturday night result in a two-minute minor, that should cause shockwaves. That stuff can’t happen.”

Kings final two regular-season games take place on the road. The team will not know its first-round playoff opponent, Nanaimo or Cowichan, until the final weekend of league play is over.

Both teams are known for high penalty minutes.

“The first round is very difficult,” said Lewis. “We’ll be prepared for it.”