Powell River Regals returned to the ice on January 6 in Rossland for their first game action of 2023.
After a scoreless opening 20 minutes, the hometown Warriors went ahead 1-0 in the second period and doubled the lead in the third.
“We had two injuries in the first 10 minutes of the game,” said Regals' coach Tod English. “Forwards Mike Markand and Tyler Carpendale had to sit and watch from that point on.”
Regals’ goaltender Laslo Tomasic, who was a Coy Cup champion and MVP with the Regals in 2010, suited up in his first game since 2014.
“He was spectacular and helped keep Rossland to those two goals until late in the third period,” said English. “Nathan McCarnan scored for us, a late goal to close the score to 2-1.”
With the Regals’ net empty in favour of an extra attacker, Warriors added an empty-net insurance marker to make it 3-1, and they needed it.
“McCarnan scored again to make it 3-2,” added English. “We put more pressure on them but couldn’t tie the game, but we had a super effort from all players.”
The following day, also at Rossland Arena, Regals found themselves trailing 5-2 in the first period, but didn’t quit, according to English.
“Our four players on defence: Jack Long, Gabe Shipley, Kyle English and rookie Matteo Porchetta, played great and gave us a chance to keep coming back,” said English. “The line of Braeden Behan, Trevor Burnett and Isaac Embree scored the first two goals.”
Rossland scored the only goal of the middle frame to go up 6-2, and exploited the Regals' short bench. But the home team also took penalties, including a four-minute infraction late in third period with a four-goal lead.
Long and Shipley both scored to narrow the lead, but the Warriors restored their cushion with another pair of goals. Regals scored late again to make the final 8-5.
“We are extremely happy and proud of the boys and their never quit attitude,” said English. “Cohen Mastrodonato and Marcus Berghauser played very well, maybe their best games as Regals.”
Both teams are pursuing the Coy Cup, which is emblematic of senior AA hockey supremacy in British Columbia. The four-team senior AA provincial championship tournament will take place in Quesnel this March.
Rossland will play Penticton Silver Bullets in a home-and-home series later this month. The winner will face the Regals for a spot in the Coy Cup.
Powell River will travel for the first two games, then host Penticton or Rossland on March 10 and 11 at Hap Parker Arena. The winner of that series goes to Quesnel.
“We may play games at the end of this month,” said English, “but we are leaning toward two weekends of training and working on special teams.
