In their second and final game at the BC Hockey League (BCHL) Showcase event in Chilliwack, Powell River Kings outlasted Cranbrook Bucks on October 22 in the first ever meeting between the two teams.
Karter McNarland scored his second goal of the season midway through the first period, while killing a penalty, then helped set up Mark D’Agostino’s second of the campaign at even strength before intermission to give the Kings a 2-1 lead. Hunter Andrew assisted on both first period goals.
Cranbrook had briefly tied the score at one, capitalizing on the same power play McNarland opened the scoring on 37 seconds earlier.
Period two was scoreless until the final minute, when Cranbrook equalized with 26 seconds remaining to knot the game at two goals each prior to intermission.
Bucks jumped out to a 3-2 lead at the 5:55 mark of period three, but the Kings responded with a pair of goals midway through the period to regain the lead. D’Agostino combined with Dylan Hewlett to set up Dylan Finlay’s first goal of the season at 9:36 to tie the game at three, then McNarland, assisted by D’Agostino and Casey Aman, put the Kings ahead for good three minutes later.
In addition to the winning goal, McNarland added an insurance marker in the empty net, completing a hat-trick, with 18 seconds remaining for a 5-3 final.
With three goals and an assist, McNarland was named the game’s first star ahead of D’Agostino and Bucks defender Cole Assailly.
Kings’ goaltender Zak Brice turned aside 32 of the 35 shots he faced to earn his second win in as many days. His counterpart Nathan Airey made 16 saves for the Bucks.
With the win, Powell River improved its record to two wins and four losses.
Cranbrook was granted an expansion franchise in 2019 to begin competing during the 2020/2021 BCHL season in the Interior Division. Due to COVID-19, the team played 20 games in a bubble with Penticton and Trail, finishing with a record of three wins, 16 losses and one shootout loss. So far this year, the Bucks have a record of two wins and three losses.
Coquitlam Express provide the next opposition for the Kings on Wednesday, October 27. Game time at Poirier Sports and Leisure Centre in Coquitlam is 7 pm.
The next home games for the Kings are November 5 and 6 against Chilliwack.
