Chilliwack Chiefs’ Jake Hand got the hat trick to beat Powell River Kings 6-3 in the season opener but the Kings salvaged a point in their 4-3 overtime loss to Trail Smoke Eaters the next day.
Alumnus and former National Hockey League player Steve Kariya, who put up 39 goals and 60 assists for 90 points with Nanaimo in 1994-95, was the honorary chairman of the third Bauer BC Hockey League Showcase and part of the Saturday night opening ceremonies, September 20.
He is presently scouting with the New Jersey Devils but took some time to help with the official puck drop at the Chiefs versus Kings game at that evening.
Kings lost 7-3 to the Chiefs in an exhibition game last week but worked hard through the week to rectify a few problems and hoped for a different result.
Jarid Lukosevicius almost scored a shorthanded goal early but it was the Chiefs who netted the first goal on the powerplay at 15:15 and added another at 19:43 to take a 2-0 lead after one period.
Chiefs got their third goal on their seventh shot on starter Brett Magnus just 0:32 seconds into the second period before the Kings started to come back.
Jarryd Leung got the Kings’ first goal of the season at 4:20 and Jeremy Leclerc scored on the powerplay to close the gap to 3-2 after two periods.
Austin Kamer pulled them all the way back to tie 3-3 on a quick goal just 0:08 seconds off the third period faceoff but Kings’ turnovers and miscues ultimately cost them the game.
Chilliwack scored three unanswered goals, including Hand’s third, to deliver the Kings a 6-3 opening season loss.
There was hardly time to dwell on it, however, as the Kings were scheduled to take the ice at 10:30 Sunday morning.
Players and coaches alike scratched their heads trying to remember the last time they had to play an early morning game but as head coach and general manager Kent Lewis said of the short turnaround, “It’s a great opportunity to see what our guys are made of.”
Kings’ opponent was Trail, who the night before went a blistering five for seven on the powerplay against Coquitlam Express in an 8-3 victory.
Oddly enough, though, Kings did most of their damage with the Smoke Eaters on the powerplay the next day.
Lukosevicius, while shorthanded, was hauled down and awarded a penalty shot which he turned into a 1-0 lead at 4:53.
Trail got a couple of goals to lead 2-1 but then Jacob Pritchard jumped on a turnover and sped the length of the ice to score another shorty at 14:10 of the second period.
Trail got it back a minute later to lead 3-2 but once more with Kurt Keats just stepping out of the penalty box, Lukosevicius tied it 3-3 with some smooth moves and a great deke to his backhand at 14:05.
Trail, however, had the upper hand in the first overtime and caught goalie Stephen Wornig out of his net for their second win 4-3.
There was marked improvement by the Kings from last week as they work out some of the early season bugs but they’ll hit the road running this week when they play divisional opponents Nanaimo Clippers on Friday, September 26, Alberni Valley Bulldogs on Saturday, September 27 and finally Cowichan Capitals on Sunday afternoon, September 28.
