Back home after two long road trips, Powell River Kings head coach Kent Lewis said his team is better than its current record of nine wins and seven losses indicates.
Kings last road game on Sunday, October 16, resulted in a 1-0 win over Prince George Spruce Kings. Lewis said it was a real test of character for the team and goalie Mitch Adamyk, who, according to the score sheet, stopped 51 shots to earn his first shutout of the season.
“Shots on goal were heavily inflated, however, it doesn’t take away from the game Adamyk played,” said Lewis. “He was very solid and very deserving of first star. You need that on a really tough road trip, a long haul and tired bodies. He stood tall for us.”
Kings opened the trip on Friday, October 14, with a lopsided 6-2 win over Coquitlam Express that snapped a two-game losing streak before falling 6-4 against Merritt Centennials on Saturday, October 15. Adamyk played all three games after fellow goalie Brian Wilson suffered a minor back injury in practice.
Rookie sniper Cam Donaldson picked up four goals and three assists on the trip and was named first star against Coquitlam and second star in Merritt. Donaldson sits alone in first place among BC Hockey League rookie scorers with 18 points and is second overall in goals with 12.
Despite being in second place in the competitive Island Division, the coach said he is not happy where the team is now.
“To be honest, we’re just a couple of games above 500; we’re better than that,” said Lewis. “We have to work harder and get better defensively. We’re better than our record and that has to fall on the coach’s shoulder to improve it, and we’re going to do that.”
Kings face Salmon Arm Silverbacks at 7:15 pm on Friday, October 21, and Langley Rivermen at 1:15 pm on Sunday, October 23, at Hap Parker Arena.
