Powell River Regals lost a pair of close games last weekend in Penticton, although the first contest on Friday, November 24, didn’t start well for the green and gold.
“We arrived late in the afternoon on game day due to travel,” said Regals’ coach Tod English. “We played in the old Memorial Arena and it being a short barn with very lively boards was a shock to our young team. That and playing hybrid icing rules for the first time in senior hockey required some adjustments to our game.
The host Silver Bullets came out flying, scoring seven unanswered goals in the first period to take a commanding lead.
“We just couldn’t adjust our game quick enough,” added English. “In the second period we started chipping away, outscored them 4-1 and had them on their heels.”
Entering period three down 8-4, bus legs were not an issue, according to English.
“We kept pressing and scored the only two goals to make the final 8-6. Despite the loss it was a great finish and good test of character.”
Isaac Embree scored twice for the Regals. Cory Burnett, Travis Granbois, Jared Winkel and Mike Behan had one goal each. The coach had praise for Burnett, who played his first game of the season, and the team’s overall defence in the final two periods.
Silver Bullets 2 - Regals 1
Regals had a much better start the following night, thanks to a strong performance from goaltender Laslzo Tamasik. There was no scoring until the third period when Chad Niddery gave the Regals a 1-0 lead with just under 12 minutes to play.
Penticton answered with a power play goal three minutes later, which forced overtime.
"In overtime, it looked like Niddery had scored, but there was no stoppage in play,” said English. “Shortly after he was bear-hugged down to the ice without a penalty being called, leaving a Penticton player all by himself, getting a breakaway pass and scoring the game-winner.
“It was a great night of hockey even though we lost 2-1 in overtime,” said English. “We had four forward lines, but captain Jack Long, Bekkam Willis, Mike Behan and Kyle English all logged an enormous amount of ice time as we ran with four defence due to injuries the night before. It was a good test for our young team."
Regals host Innisfail Eagles, who won the Alberta senior AAA championship in 2023, for a pair of games at Hap Parker Arena on Friday, December 8, and Saturday, December 9. Both games start at 7:30 pm.
Powell River is hosting the BC senior AA championship tournament in March, which will include three regional representatives along with the host Regals.
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