If there was ever a game for Powell River Kings to put on a show this was it.
A near-capacity crowd of 1,186 were ready to party at Hap Parker Arena on Saturday night, December 29, but in the end there were 15 happy raffle winners, two 50/50 winners and the rest left the arena muttering “next year.”
Prior to the game, coach and general manager Kent Lewis was asked if, given the size of the crowd, he expected an exciting shootout or a more traditional Kings’ low-scoring victory.
With all of his experience he replied, “I don’t know but it will probably be ugly.”
Kings lost to the Alberni Valley Bulldogs 6-3 and from the net on out Lewis had nailed it.
There is no explanation for the lacklustre effort from the Kings but the problems that had plagued them throughout the first half of the season came back to bite them against the Bulldogs.
Most of the goals came on odd-man rushes and the Bulldogs had a field day pouncing on rebounds off Kings’ goalie Jonah Imoo.
Alberni jumped out to a first period lead of 3-0 and added a fourth goal at 1:51 of the second period before Kings’ JJ Coleshaw gave fans something to cheer about at 2:02.
Imoo was replaced after waving at a wrist shot by Alberni’s Chase Van Allen from well out at 12:43 to put the Bulldogs up 5-1.
Kings did begin a comeback when JP Villeneuve and Matt Joyaux scored the first two goals of the third period. Given a chance to draw even closer on the powerplay they turned the puck over in front of goalie Braeden Ostepchuk and Alberni made them pay. The short-handed goal came at 14:43 to make the final 6-3.
The lost opportunity to capitalize on the excitement of the events surrounding the game completely befuddled Lewis.
“That was an embarrassing effort,” he said. “I think maybe it’s been too easy and we have to address a lot of things. In a game where you should have a lot of fire in front of a good crowd, we just responded the opposite way. We double or triple them in scoring chances and don’t finish. That’s preparation and not being ready to play and the onus has to fall on me.”
Aside from the result, the overall success of the evening couldn’t be denied.
Dream raffle organizer Joe Mastrodonato broke a lot of records with his long list of prizes and huge $20,800 50/50.
Winner of the $50,000 first prize, Henry Bryce George, has lived in Powell River since 1961 and stayed, he said, because “I liked it.”
He was an early bird of sorts with the purchase of ticket number 107 and intends to enjoy his windfall with family.
“A little bit for the kids and grandkids,” he said, “and then maybe go on a trip this summer—we’ve been talking about an Alaskan cruise.”
Winners Ken and Ginny Shelton are in the midst of a home renovation project and appropriately took home the Valley Building Supplies’ $2,000 seventh prize.
“Our son Don bought the ticket for us and the basement is all gutted out,” said Ken.
His wife Ginny laughed saying, “Now we’ll see how much they want to help with the gyproc.”
Maybe even more popular than the main raffle was the gigantic 50/50 won by Cindy Villani.
“I’m in shock,” she said, right after the announcement. “I just heard my name and it’s not computing right now.”
The odds of winning, even within her family, were high because, “of all the tickets purchased by our family that was the only ticket in my name.”
She also spoke of the support and benefits of the raffle for Powell River. “The financial support that Powell River gave to this is unbelievable and I’m so pleased to have so many people here tonight and so many Powell River names drawn.”
Kings host the Prince George Spruce Kings at 7:30 pm on Friday, January 4 then head to the Vancouver Island to play Nanaimo Clippers on Saturday, January 5 and Victoria Grizzlies Sunday afternoon.
