by Glen Gibbs Peak Sports Hockey Now wrote “The Powell River Kings have ruled the roost in the Coastal Conference…but some of their newly renovated rivals will have something to say about it this year.”
Victoria Grizzly coach Len Barrie added his comments in the Victoria Times Colonist, “Our goal is to win the coastal conference…Powell River has had it the last few years. It’s time to bump them off.”
So it wasn’t really a surprise that the Kings would have to overcome desperate tactics from Nanaimo Clippers to sink their Vancouver Island rival 3-2 in double overtime on Friday night, September 23 and 3-1 Saturday.
Most of the excitement, and the loudest cheers on Friday, came after many left with the Kings holding a comfortable 2-0 lead late in the game.
After goals from Matt Scarth and Daniel Schuler in the opening 40 minutes, Nanaimo struck twice in the final 90 seconds to force overtime.
Faced with the embarrassment of blowing a two-goal lead, Kings eventually overpowered the Clippers when Scarth undressed Nanaimo’s goaltender to roof the winner at 3:26 of the second overtime period.
The game was closer than it needed to be and later coach Kent Lewis said flatly, “a major collapse on our part. Tonight we’re just upset they got a point because they had no right to it, because we caved in the last couple of minutes and we can’t do that.”
Scarth starred in his first league game with the Kings with two goals and a timely highlight-reel goal in overtime.
“That’s my go-to,” he said, “Willie [Chris Williams] made a nice pass and I had to finish on that.”
He spoke for everyone when he said, “lot’s of nerves and adrenaline and we were a little rusty in the first game, but I love the team, the guys are great and we’ve got another good season coming.”
The rematch was very different in the sense that the Clippers knew they had to slow down the Kings, particularly Evan Richardson, Schuler and Scarth, if they were going to have a chance to win.
After the Kings got off to a 1-0 lead on Jon Jutzi’s powerplay goal in the first period, and they totally dominated the first five minutes of the second, it was evident that the Clippers’ strategy was to target the Kings’ top line.
Colton Cyr boarded Richardson and his blatant actions drew the wrath of Kings’ captain Williams.
The ensuing melee seemed to catch the officials off guard and after the dust settled Kings’ Craig Dalrymple, Richardson and Scarth were ejected from the game for fighting.
Clippers also lost three players but Kings continued with a big hole in their offence and were left to wonder how they came out on the short end of an ugly stick.
“I thought our guys did a good job of answering the bell,” said assistant coach Chad van Diemen. “We’re going to have to learn to eliminate the stuff after the whistle and just get out of it, because that’s exactly what they wanted us to do.”
Kings tried that but when Williams went to the penalty box and Richardson went back to the bench, it left five Clippers to pummel three Kings with the officials looking confused and standing around.
Kings, despite being a target, will not be intimidated, according to Williams. “Teams think they’re going to come in and hit our top players,” he said angrily. “Like they saw we got Evan Richardson and because he’s a little guy they’re going to hit the heck out of him. Well, if they’re going to hit him, we’re going to have to answer the bell and I thought we answered it pretty well tonight.”
Suspensions were handed down Tuesday, September 27. Lewis is suspended for one game, Richardson and Scarth for two. Clippers’ coach is also suspended for one game and three Nanaimo players received two suspensions each.
Kings play Cowichan Capitals in Duncan tonight, Wednesday, September 28 then return to host Langley Rivermen at 7:30 pm on Saturday, October 1 and Langley again at 1:30 pm on Sunday, October 2 at Hap Parker Arena.
