Powell River Bantam Kings travelled recently to Vancouver Island for a couple of big league games. First up was tier one undefeated Nanaimo Clippers.
Powell River started strong and Colby Shelton made no mistake hammering in a rebound, to make it 1-0 half-way through the first period. Nanaimo came back in this high-tempo game and tied it late in the first. The boys knew they needed a full team effort starting the second and that was exactly what transpired. Defenceman Owen Dobler, playing his best game of the year, fed Hunter Findlater for a breakaway snapshot five-hole making it 2-1 early in the second.
Nanaimo poured it on but Lucas Dupuis made some huge stops and defensively the coverage was great. This led to Findlater’s second goal of the game on a Dobler point shot making it 3-1 late in the second. The strong Nanaimo team kept the pressure on Powell River but Powell River held them off and Nico Sansalone set up in front of the Nanaimo tender and deflected a Carlos Grouchy point shot to seal the deal. Nanaimo scored another but it was too late as the Bantam Kings handed Nanaimo their first loss of the year, a huge accomplishment for a much smaller association.
Next stop was Campbell River, and right off the start Powell River’s intensity was lacking. By the end Campbell River took it to the Kings 9-3. Grant Dollevoet had two goals and Dobler had the Kings’ third.
Fans have a chance to watch the Bantam Kings in the upcoming playoffs starting 2:15 pm, Saturday, February 5 at Hap Parker Arena. They will then travel to Oceanside and Campbell River to complete the round robin in the North Island Division as they work toward making the provincials.
