Powell River Kings skated to a 6-3 win over Alberni Valley Bulldogs on Friday, September 6.
Dawson McKay scored twice and Rowan Miller added one goal and two assists, helping the home team to an opening night win for the third straight season.
Kings received contributions from all three members of their first line, as Levi Glasman, Miller and Hunter McCoy each scored.
“Levi is now in the league for his third year, Miller is in his second and he was awesome tonight,” said Kings assistant coach Brock Sawyer. “When you sprinkle in a skilled player with a good motor like McCoy, they become dynamic. I thought their energy was good and they did the little things right.”
Glasman and McKay scored nine seconds apart to give the Kings a 2-0 lead early in the first period. For Glasman it was his 50th career junior goal, while McKay netted his first as a King, his first of two in the game.
“I thought we came out with energy in our opening 20 minutes,” said Sawyer. “Obviously we had a great 15 seconds where we scored two goals, so it was an ideal middle part of the period and a good opening 20.”
Bulldogs cut the lead to one goal twice in the second period. Tommy Bannister made it 2-1, and later Tyler Kostelecky took advantage of a bounce and scored to make it 3-2 heading into the third period.
McKay and McCoy scored back-to-back goals for the Kings in the third period to regain the two-goal advantage, and PJ Garret rounded out the scoring for the home team in the last minute of play.
Matteo Paler-Chow stopped 23 shots to earn the win; Kings outshot the Bulldogs 35 to 26.
Prior to puck drop, former King Heath Dennison had his number 19 retired. Dennison was an original member of the Kings, starting his five-year career with the club in the 1988/1989 season, the team’s first in Powell River after moving from Delta. He becomes the second player to receive the honour, joining Brad Bombardir, who suited up for the Kings from 1988 to 1990.
Also during the opening ceremonies, Kings named Powell River native Jack Long as team captain. Ethan Schmunk, Glasman, Miller and Davis Pennington were named assistant captains.
Attendance at Hap Parker Arena was 953.
The two teams meet again tonight, also in Powell River. Game time is 5 pm.
