Powell River Regals completed a pair of weekend road matchups against BC Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) teams on Saturday, October 29, in Nanaimo. Twenty-four hours after a loss to University of Victoria, the senior AA hockey team met Vancouver Island University (VIU) Mariners.
“With a full lineup we had a very quick team,” said Regals' coach Tod English. “In the first period we were almost equal in shots (15-14 in favour of VIU) and we had good pressure in their end with several goal-mouth scrambles we couldn’t convert on.”
Regals were down 3-1 after a first period where Isaac Embree scored shorthanded and, according to English, goaltender Lucas Dupuis “kept us in the game.”
VIU added a pair of goals in the second period to lead 5-1, while the Regals were unable to convert on their multiple scoring chances. The teams exchange goals in the third period for a 6-2 final, with Gabe Shipley scoring on a power play for Powell River.
“Positive things came out of this game, especially the speed of play and also the fact that we only took three minor penalties,” said English. “We played very well in their end and our defensive coverage is improving.”
Mariners are currently third in BCIHL standings behind Simon Fraser University and Okanagan Lakers.
In preparation for Coy Cup playoffs, which is the provincial championship at the senior AA level, Regals have scheduled games versus BCIHL clubs, in addition to other senior AA teams in BC.
