Powell River Regals held a third period lead in game one of a best-of-three Coy Cup qualification series on Friday, March 7, but gave up four third period goals in a loss to their West Kootenay opponents.
Rossland Warriors took a 1-0 lead in the first period, then fought back from a pair of one goal, second period deficits with a strong final frame to win 6-4 at Hap Parker Arena.
“We definitely had some nervous energy, which led to a few penalties,” said Regals’ coach Tod English. “We did kill off all of them, except for late in a five-minute major in the first period.”
Regals’ captain Jack Long scored Powell River’s first of three goals in the second period with a shot from the blue line, which eluded a screened Rossland goaltender. Bryson Cecconi gave the home team its first lead shortly thereafter, converting on a breakaway pass from Brock Sawyer with a deke to his forehand before lifting the puck into the top of the net. Nic Porchetta won a faceoff in his own end to earn the second assist.
Warriors made it 2-2 with 7:35 remaining in the second period. After Laszlo Tamasik made one of his 17 saves, an unchecked Rossland player sent the rebound past the Powell River goaltender. Regals outshot the visitors by a margin of 44-23 overall in the game, including 20-4 in the second period.
Travis Granbois restored the Regals’ lead prior to intermission after one-timing a cross-ice pass from Sawyer into the back of the net.
Despite being heavily outshot, Rossland took control of the game with a tying goal 2:20 into the third period, then two more at the midway point 28 seconds apart to lead 5-3.
Long and Chad Niddery set up Cecconi’s second of the night, with just under two minutes remaining and Tamasik on the bench in favour of an extra attacker, but the Warriors thwarted any further attempts to tie the score and sealed the win with a late empty-net goal.
“We didn’t get the bounces we needed and execute on the power play, but I thought by outshooting them we carried the play,” said Regals’ coach Tod English. “We look to bounce back and force game three.”
Regals face a must-win game tonight (Saturday, March 8) at 7 pm to keep their season alive and force a third and deciding game on Sunday, March 9 (1:30 pm). All games take place at Hap Parker Arena in Powell River Recreation Complex.
The winner of the series advances to the final four Coy Cup BC championship tournament in Prince Rupert during the last week of March.
Earlier this month, Powell River won the West Coast Senior Hockey League McCallum Cup championship.
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