Powell River Kings held onto first place for one week and then fell back into a tie with Victoria Grizzlies in the battle for top spot in the BC Hockey League Island Division after one win and one loss in weekend home games at Hap Parker Arena. Both games were decided in overtime.
Kings won Friday, November 4, beating Merritt Centennials 3-2. Sunday, November 6, Kings came out on the losing end of a 7-6 score in a penalty-filled game against Chilliwack Chiefs that head coach Kent Lewis said his team should have won.
“We didn’t play very well and made a lot of mistakes,” said Lewis. “We scored six goals; we can score. Our turnovers were high and that led to most of their shots, and our discipline has to be better; we took too many penalties.”
A total of 35 minutes in penalties were called, split almost evenly between the two teams. The rough stuff started midway through the first period with an altercation between Chiefs defence Olivier Arseneau and Kings forward Tristan Mullin, who received instigator, fighting and game-misconduct penalties, and continued throughout a chipping game.
According to Lewis, eliminating the two-fight rule in favour of a one-and-done rule that results in an automatic game misconduct, a decision made by the Canadian Junior Hockey League, is part of the problem.
“You bring in some punks and some coaches who allow guys to stick and butt end,” said Lewis, “and there are going to be problems.”
Lewis said a few teams in the league play that way and he tells his players to give back, but stay within the rules
“Have some bite,” he said. “There’s a difference between playing with bite and playing dirty.”
Against the Chiefs, Curtis McCarrick was the top scorer for the Kings with two goals and an assist. He was named second star of the game.
In the Merritt game, Carter Turnbull scored the winner in the second overtime period.
Due to illness, rookie Cam Donaldson did not play against Merritt on Friday, but returned to the lineup on Sunday, assisting on a goal by Jonny Evans. Donaldson and Evans are now fourth and fifth respectively in the league scoring race.
Donaldson leads all rookies in league scoring, 11 points ahead of his nearest rival.
Kings next action is Friday, November 11, at 7:15 pm against Victoria. The same two teams square off again the following day at 5 pm. Both games take place at Hap Parker Arena.
