Kings Back in the Win Column

Powell River overcame a short handed line up and bounced back from a loss on Sunday and downed the Alberni Valley Bulldogs 4-2.

The coaching staff will tell you that illness or injury can never be used an excuse for a game and tonight they should why. The Kings got key contributions from the depth players, including Mike Sones scoring the game winning goal in the second period.

The Bulldogs actually scored the opening goal of the game, just 1:30 into the first period on the power-play. Casey Bailey took a pass down low on the left wing and banked a shot off Maguire on the short side. The start was less the ideal by the Kings but their response was key.

Powell River went on to score two goals mid way through the first to grab a 2-1, after Brenden Forbes and Teagan Waugh found the score sheet. However just like the start, the end of the period hurt the Kings.

Tanner Hicks took a pass from behind the goal and one-timed a shot through the right arm of Maguire for his first BCHL, and tying the game in the process.

The Second period was less then perfect by both teams, as sloppy play and failed passes in both zones plagued Powell River. Even though the Kings weren't at their best, they did take the lead when Mike Sones converted a pass from Forbes in front for his sixth. That goal would turn out to be the game winner.

The Third period saw the Kings get back to the way they wanted to play, forcing turn overs in the Bulldogs end and pressuring their defensemen. On several occasion's the Kings bottled up the Bulldogs break outs.

Powell River played much better in both ends of the ice throughout the third. The Kings consistantly turned back a hungry Bulldogs team trying to tie the game.

The Hawryluk twins high lighted a few players that thrived in expanded roles. Brendan was strong in the circle, especially in the late going during key defensive situations. He and Forbes were great tonight in the dots for the Kings.

 The Kings are back in action on Friday when the host the Coquitlam Express.

GAME LINE UPS: ALBERNI at POWELL RIVER

Casey Bailey Josh Mitchell Colton Sobchak

Tyler Berkholtz Sam Mitchell Trent Dorais

Brandon Adams Oliver McCluskey Lars Hepso

Sawyer Mick Liam Darragh Konrad Litke

Not Playing: Justin Morello

Frank Riddle Kenney Morrison

Kyle Weber Marley Keca

Conner Varley Tanner Hicks

Not Playing: Brody Lynott



Chad Niddery Brendan Hawryluk Bond Hawryluk

Carter Shinkaruk Breden Forbes Teagan Waugh

Scott Renner Steven Schmidt Andrew Pettitt

Mike Sones         Dan Schuler

Not Playing: Matt Garbowsky (flu) Cohen Adair (flu)

Brandan Smith (AP) Chris Williams

Jon Jutzi Klay Kachur

Braden Pears Jason Yee

Not Playing: Justin DaSilva (Suspension) Craig Dalrymple (flu)

Sean Maguire

Mike Garteig

GAME PREVIEW: BULLDOGS at KINGS

                                         17-17-3-2 (6)                                    29-6-3-2 (1)

                         LAST 10: 3-5-1-1                            LAST 10: 9-1-0-0

Season Series: 3-1-0-0 Kings

• The Kings have outscored the Bulldogs 10-5 in four games thus far, including an opening night shutout on September 10th. Powell River has won the last two encounters versus the 'Dawgs.

Last Meeting: November 27th 4-1 Kings

• Sean Maguire stopped 28 of 29 shots for the win and first star honours for the Kings. Steven Schmidt, Andrew Pettitt, Jon Jutzi and Matt Garbowsky (EN) scored for Powell River. Tyler Berkholtz replied for the Bulldogs.

TEAM SCOPE

ALBERNI VALLEY: The Bulldogs will be looking for a fresh start in the new year. To end 2010 the Bulldogs went 3-6-1-1 in December and 2-3-0-0 in their final five games. The 'Dawgs were outscored 36-30 in the 11 games they played last month.

Alberni Valley is in the midst of a tough schedule as this will be their sixth straight road game dating back before the Christmas break. The Bulldogs last home game was on December 11th a 1-1 tie with Vernon. To compound the matter is the road hasn't been so kind to the Bulldogs. They are 2-3-0-0 on their five game road trip and 2-4-0-1 on the road in the month of December. Overall, their road record sits at 5-10-1-2, tied with Victoria and Nanaimo for the second most road losses behind Cowichan Valley.

POWELL RIVER: The Kings are in unfamiliar territory. If you include their loss to Malmo on New Year's Eve, the Kings have lost two straight. That is the first time all season the Kings have lost consecutive games. Powell River did have their nine game winning streak come to an end on Sunday in Langley. That game high lighted a uninspired effort from the Kings in the first and third periods, allowing the Chiefs to skate away with a 4-2 victory.

However it isn't all doom and gloom, the Kings still own the best home record at 17-3-0-1 and haven't lost at home in five games. The Kings have also won both games at home against the Bulldogs by a combined score of 5-1.

WHO'S HOT:  Chad Niddery has eight points (1-7-8) in his last five games. His line mates are finding the score sheet as well. Matt Garbowsky has six goals in is last five and Dan Schuler has six assists. Also the Kings are getting production from their back end. The Kings blue-line has collected 12 points in their past five games.

Casey Bailey and Josh Mitchell lead the way for the Bulldogs. Both have six points in their last five games, Bailey has three goals and three helpers, where as Josh Mitchell has scored once and added five asssists. Also Brandon Adam has two goals and two assists.

INJURY REPORT: The Kings in all likely hood will be without Justin DaSilva. The defenseman was assessed a hit to the head major penalty on Sunday. That carries a two game suspension under the Junior A Supplement. For the Bulldogs, Tanner Hicks will make his debut against the Kings this season. The defenseman was out long term with a lacerated spleen.

STAT PACK: The Kings have scored first in three of the four meetings this season. The only game the Bulldogs got on the board first, they won.

MIKE GARTEIG COMMITS TO QUINNIPIAC

Congratulations to second year Powell River King Mike Garteig. The Kings starting goaltender has announced his commit to the University of Quinnipiac for next fall.

Garteig is having an outstanding final season in the BCHL, as he sits first in every major goaltending statistic. In 34 starts, Garteig has collected 24 wins, six losses and 3 ties and one overtime loss. He sports a 1.53 GAA and a sparkling .937 save percentage. In 60 career starts with the Kings, Garteig is 39-18-3 with a 2.16 GAA and a .915 save percentage.

" Mike has shown that he is a elite goaltender in the BCHL" commented Head Coach Kent Lewis, " This is well deserved as Mike has worked very hard in improving his game and himself as a person."

Mike Garteig is the eighth King player to secure an NCAA Division 1 scholarship and seventh this season.

                 Here's an interview I had with Garteig yesturday.

LISTEN HERE

Kings Fall to Langley 4-2

"The score will take care of itself when you take care of the effort that precedes the score"
        - John Wooden

That quote could sum out yesterday afternoon at the Langley Events Centre for the Powell River Kings. The Chiefs outworked the Kings and were allowed to dictate the game with their style of play in contest.

The Kings looked tired and sluggish in the first period, something I haven't seen from this group in quite some time. The Coaching staff was not happy, as they made an conscientious effort to travel the day before. Travel could not be made into an excuse.

Compounding the problems  was missing co-captain, Matt Garbowsky who sat out due to the flu. I talked to Garbowsky in the second intermission and lets say he didn't look so hot. By all indications he should be ready for tomorrow but the team is taking a wait and see approach.

Another alarming trend from yesterday's contest was the undisciplined play displayed from the team. Powell River was burned for seven penalties and yielded six power-plays. The Chiefs scored once on the man advantage, the opening goal by Tim Daly in the first period.

Furthermore, Dan Schuler and Justin DaSilva both received game misconducts. By the 11:02 mark in the second period, Powell River was done to 11 forwards and five defensemen. Schuler should be eligible for tomorrow night, whereas DaSilva most likely will serve an additional two game suspension. DaSilva was given a five minute hit to the head major penalty. That does carry a two game suspension under the new junior A supplement.

 The Kings did have a much better second period,scoring the only goal , courtesy of Cohen Adair's power-play marker at 18:58. Also the Kings actually out shot the Chiefs 18-10 in that period and 27-18 through two periods. The game was theirs for the taking.


The third period saw the Kings back on their heels and the wheeled three goals in 8:11 for the Chiefs. With the last one coming short-handed, during a 2-1 game. That goal seemed to be the straw that broke the camel's back. The Kings did strike once more, on the power-play, when Chris Williams converted  from the point.

Some might panic and start to point fingers as the Kings are now in an unofficial  two game slump, if you include the exhibition game against Malmo. However teams that lose one out of every three games over the course of the season are good team as that would translte into a 35 - 40 win team. The Kings, just lost their first in TEN games and only sixth in regulation. I would say their is no need to worry.

GAME PREVIEW: Kings @ Chiefs



29-5-3-2

LAST GAME: The Kings blitzed the Nanaimo Clippers for five first period goals in a 6-2 win at home on Wednesday. It was the Kings ninth straight win and they closed out December undefeated at 7-0.

What is more impressive on an individual level is Matt Garbowsky's first period hat-trick. The King co-captain scored three goals in the first 9:36 of the game. Garbowsky now has back to back hat-tricks dating back to December 18th versus Victoria.

DID YOU KNOW? The Kings have only surrendered seven goals in their last nine games, including collecting two shutouts. That's only giving up .78 goals per game over that span.

POWER SURGE: The much maligned Kings power-play is turning in the right direction. In their last two games, Powell River is five for eight on the man advantage. Garbowsky chipped in with two power-play goals against Victoria and one against Nanaimo.

To compound matters the Langley Chiefs are the most penalized team in the BCHL, being short-handed 252 times this season. The Kings up tempo puck possession play lends to power-play opportunities and if recent history is any indicator, they will have plenty of opportunities today.

NUTS N' BOLTS

Season Series: 5-0-1-1

Most recent game: December 8th  PR 4 @ LNG 0

* Mike Garteig stopped 27 shots for his second shutout on the road trip. Also the Kings got goals from four different players including two goals from the third line (Forbes and Waugh).

Next Encounter: February 5th Langley Events Centre.

Power-Play: 19.47 % (13)

Road: 17.07 % (13)

Penalty-Kill: 91.28% (1)

Road: 93.02 % (1)

Goals: Garbowsky (29)

Assists: Niddery (40)

Points: Niddery (52)

PPG: Garbowsky (9)

SHG: Garbowsky (3)

 



22-14-1-5 

LAST GAME: Brandon Thompson broke a scoreless tie in the second period on Thursday en route to a 4-2 win over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs at the Langley Event Centre.  The Chiefs scored the first three goals in that contest before surviving a Bulldog come back attempt in the third.

The win was the Chiefs first in three tries after being knocked off by Quesnel in overtime 5-4 and Surrey 3-2 before the Christmas break. In fact, Langley headed in the opposite direction of Powell River last month. The Chiefs were 4-5-0-0 in December and opponents have scored three or more goals in three of their last five games.

DID YOU KNOW? The Chiefs haven't scored more then two goals in a game against Powell River since winning the opener 3-2 in overtime on October 15th.

STAYING POWER: The Chiefs are lead offensively  by Matt Ius and his 61 points. The 20 year-old has five points in as many games, including four against Prince George. However you can flip that and say he has only one point, a goal against Quesnel, in his last four games. Langley has other dangerous weapons including Josh Myer and Brandon Thompson. However it seems as Ius goes so do the Chiefs. When he factors in the scoring the Chiefs usually come out on top. For the Chiefs to snapp their losing skid against Powell River, Ius will have to find the scoresheet. As he only has three points against the Kings this season.

NUTS N' BOLTS

Season Series: 1-5-1-0

Next Encounter: February 5th Langley Events Centre.

Power-Play: 20.93 % (9)

Home: 22.45 % (9)

Penalty-Kill: 80.95 % (7)

Home: 81.74 % (8)

Goals: Josh Myers (27)

Assists: Matt Ius (37)

Points: Matt Ius (61)

PPG: Brad McBride (12)

SHG: Myers / Gerling (4)



: MALMO vs. KINGS



New Years Eve: The Powell River Kings take a break from their BCHL schedule to play some international puck tonight. The Kings welcome the Malmo Rehawks to the Hap Parker Arena. Malmo is a swedish junior club that compete's in the country's highest junior divison.

* Puck drop is 5:30pm

Gold n' Blue: The Redhawks are in search of their first win on their seven game western Canada exhibtion series. So far the Swedes have dropped games to the Dawson Creek Rage (NAHL) 2-1 and the Grand Prairie Storm (AJHL) 8-4.

This wll be the first of five games the Redhawks will play against BCHL teams. Malmo moves on to Nanaimo tomorrow afternoon, Alberni Valley Sunday, and Victoria and Cowichan Valley on the 4th and 5th.

Swedish Touch: Just before the Redhawks embarked on their Western Canada road trip they were dealt a blow. Their two top forwards, brothers, Panthrik and Ponthus were called up to the men's team. The juniors play under the Malmo IF umbrella, with the men's team at the top which plays in the Elitserien. The juniors are the feeder team for the senior side and when they call they have to answer.

Panthrik had 43 points (20 25-18-43)  to Ponthus's 42 (24 12-30-42) in limited action in the J20 SuperElit. With those two gone the offense will be lead by Zebastian Ilestedt.  Ilestedt is one of the elder statesman on the team at the age of 19. Others to look out for is Victor Ohman. The son of head coach Roger, Victor has 10 points in only nine games. Ohman had 27 points in 21 games for the Redhawks one season ago.