With only five games remaining until the BC Hockey League’s annual Christmas break, Powell River Kings welcomed a pair of Interior Division teams to Hap Parker Arena, wrapping up a six-game home stand.
On Friday, Trail Smoke Eaters made the 800-kilometre trek to Powell River for their only visit to the Sunshine Coast this season.
For the second straight game, Powell River allowed the first goal early in the first period.
Trail’s lead would be short-lived as Nick Nonis scored his first goal of the season on a shot from the blue line to tie the game. With the goal, every Kings skater has scored at least once this season.
Trail regained the lead three minutes later and held it for the remainder of the game.
After Trail made it 3-1, Tristan Mullin’s goal got the home side within one, but an empty netter with 29 seconds remaining sealed a 4-2 Trail victory.
Goaltender Stefan Wornig took the loss in his first game action since November 1, stopping 39 Trail shots.
“It was a sluggish start from us; they came out and got a quick one on us and we were just playing catchup all game,” said defenceman Rylan Ball. “We had a couple of empty-net chances and shot wide, but we’ve just got to work harder and play a full 60 minutes.”
Kings head coach Kent Lewis wanted to see a more physical and engaged Kings team.
“We can’t get outworked. We have to get to a point where every night we’re the hardest working of the two teams and we’re the best prepared,” said Lewis.
Merritt Centennials were due at Hap Parker Arena on Saturday night for their lone visit during the regular season.
Much like Victoria’s trip last weekend, weather played a major role in the start of the game. Following a 7-5 loss in Nanaimo on Friday, Merritt left at 4 am the next morning to catch the first ferry to Powell River from Comox.
On arrival at the terminal, the team learned the sailing had been cancelled and were forced to travel 14 hours back through Nanaimo, over to Horseshoe Bay and up Highway 101.
A tired Centennials team arrived in Powell River late and the Kings took advantage.
Mullin scored a pair of goals inside the opening 11 minutes as the Kings took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission, outshooting Merritt 15-12.
An early power play goal from Liam Lawson in the second was answered quickly by Merritt. Soon after, Chris Protopoulos pounced on a rebound and made a nice move in front of Merritt’s goaltender to give Powell River a 4-1 lead.
A late Merritt goal in the second period, then another with five minutes remaining in the game, made for tense moments, but Powell River held on, snapping a two-game losing streak with a 4-3 win.
Goaltender Jeff Smith stopped 38 shots for his 16th win of the season.
“After Friday, we were pretty disappointed with how we started and how we played for the majority of the game; the early goal was big,” said Nonis. “We talked about getting off to a good start and Mullin’s goal was a big weight off the shoulders.”
Powell River’s record stands at 18-12-0-1, tied for second in the Island Division alongside Cowichan, with two games in hand.
The Kings’ pre-Christmas schedule wraps up on the road with three games this coming weekend, beginning Friday night in Langley. Saturday, Powell River visits Salmon Arm, before wrapping up the weekend in Vernon on Sunday.
All three games will be broadcast at powellriverkings.com.
Kings notes
Powell River Kings forwards Kyle Betts and Carter Turnbull were selected to represent Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge in Coberg, Ontario.
The tournament began on Sunday with Canada West winning 7-3 over Czech Republic.
Betts scored Canada West’s fifth goal, assisted by Turnbull. The tournament continues this week.
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