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Powell River Kings split games at annual BCHL Showcase

Hockey team rebounds with gritty effort following season’s first loss
Alex Rawnsley
Powell River Kings forwards Ben Berard [left] and Neal Samanski
FACE-OFF FRENZY: Powell River Kings forwards Ben Berard [left] and Neal Samanski battle for puck possession after a faceoff against Coquitlam Express opponents at a BCHL game in Langley on September 20. Kings suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of the Express by a score of 6-3. Garrett James photo

Powell River Kings undefeated start to the season ended against Coquitlam Express on Thursday, September 20, however, the team found a second gear in a rare morning start the following day to earn a split at the BC Hockey League Showcase in Chilliwack.

For the seventh consecutive season, all 17 teams in the BCHL gathered in the Lower Mainland to allow more than 150 professional and collegiate scouts to view the league’s crop of talent for the season. For Powell River, a team with four committed players to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for future seasons, and several on the cusp, attention was high for the team’s pair of games.

Similar to the opening game of the season against Victoria Grizzlies, Kings found themselves down 3-0 to the Express in the second period before Neal Samanski put Powell River on the scoreboard. Christian Buono and Ben Thomas also scored for Powell River, but Coquitlam responded with three more goals of its own. After 60 minutes, Kings undefeated 3-0 record to start the season came to an end with a 6-3 loss to the Express.

“No compete; [players] didn’t do what we’ve been preaching all year,” said Kings head coach Tyler Kuntz following the loss. “They didn’t hit, they didn’t block shots, they turned the puck over in soft areas of the ice, they just didn’t compete.”

That sentiment was echoed by the playing group, including Buono, who’s second-period goal was his first in the BCHL.

“The puck went deep, I had a couple of guys on me but [Ethan] Schmunk did a good job to get it up top and I found a tip in front; it felt really good,” said Buono. “First bit of the game, we didn’t have our legs under us, we weren’t battling hard enough. In the second we started to get the tempo up but it came in waves and not for a full 60 minutes.”

On Friday, September 21, Powell River took on Trail Smoke Eaters for the fourth time in five years at the Showcase event.

After a first period powerplay marker for Trail led to a 1-0 lead through 20 minutes, Powell River scored an ideal second period goal, 1:01 into the frame, through Ryan Brushett, whose third in as many games tied the score and steered the Kings toward control of the game.

Liam Lytton added his third of the season midway through the period. Powell River held the 2-1 lead through 40 minutes, as well as a heavy advantage in shots.

A tightly contested third period saw Trail outshoot Powell River narrowly, however, Kings held strong to get back into the win column with a 2-1 result. Mitch Adamyk stopped 22 Trail shots for his fourth win of the season.

“We started slow, but as we started to find our game and settle into the situation, we did a lot of positive things to put ourselves in good scoring situations, generating some grade-A chances,” said assistant coach Brock Sawyer. “A lot of guys took steps in the right direction, which we’re hoping will continue as the season goes on.”

Powell River now enjoys a full seven days off from game action, ahead of a weekend pair on Vancouver Island against Victoria and Nanaimo on Friday, September 28 and Saturday, September 29.