Powell River Kings are 3-0 to start a BC Hockey League season for the first time since the 2011/2012 campaign on the heels of a pair of weekend victories over division rival Nanaimo Clippers.
On Friday, September 14, both teams began the game by pausing and honouring the Humboldt Broncos. Powell River raised a banner to the rafters, one of 133 identical banners that will be displayed in every Junior A arena in the country this season.
Following a moment of silence for the 16 victims and countless others impacted by April’s bus crash, Kings earned the early advantage.
On the game’s second powerplay, Powell River’s Ben Berard scored his first of the season, converting a cross-ice pass from Matt Fawcett to open the scoring. Nanaimo countered by scoring two unanswered goals in the second period and early into the third, however, as the team did one week prior against Victoria, Powell River roared back.
Liam Lytton scored a third-period equalizer for the second straight game before Berard scored the eventual game winner, and empty-net insurance marker for the hat trick and a 4-2 win.
Goaltender Mitch Adamyk stopped 22 shots for his second win of the season.
“The guys did a really good job; we were on them all night so the Clippers didn’t get a lot of offence,” said Adamyk. “When they did it wasn’t anything too special and it made my night pretty easy. I had to play the puck a little more, talk with the guys a little more since I wasn’t getting too many shots, just to stay engaged.”
Powell River jumped out to a sizeable advantage in territory and shot totals again on Saturday, September 15, but were not able to translate that onto the scoreboard. Ryan Brushett scored his first as a King in the first period, however, it was quickly cancelled out by Nanaimo en route to a 1-1 score after 20 minutes, with shots heavily favouring Powell River 24-7.
“I was pretty excited to get that out of the way and hopefully I can keep it going,” said Brushett after a three-point night. “The first goal really puts the other team on their heels; we got all over them quick and it really helped as the game went on.”
The second period saw Nanaimo take the lead, however Brushett quickly responded with his second of the game. Kyle Kawamura and Neal Samanski then combined for a pair of goals 47 seconds apart as the Kings took a 4-2 advantage through 40 minutes, a lead they would not surrender on their way to a second straight 4-2 win. Adamyk picked up the win again, this time stopping 18 Nanaimo chances.
The weekend was a big success for the Kings, who continue to build on and develop their game plan and aim to continue getting better every game.
“We did a lot of good things this weekend, found ways to find the back of the net,” said assistant coach Brock Sawyer. “Going down by a goal in both games isn’t ideal, but it’s all part of the ebbs and flows of hockey and just working towards the end goal and finding a way to win.”
For their efforts, five points in two games each, Berard and Brushett were named Honourable Mentions for the BCHL Player of the Week, announced by the league on Monday September 17.
Powell River now ventures on the road for four games, beginning this week at the BCHL Showcase in Chilliwack. Kings will take on Coquitlam at 4 pm on Thursday, September 20, before a quick turnaround for a Friday morning 10 am puck drop against Trail. Scores were not available at press time.
The Friday game marks the fourth time in the last five years Powell River and Trail have met at the annual event.
