Powell River Regals are gearing up for their season opener, set for October 18 and 19, against the Jackson Hole Wyoming Moose in what promises to be an exciting weekend of West Coast Senior Hockey League action.
Last Saturday, the Regals travelled to Nanaimo to face off against the Steelmen in a preseason matchup. With the addition of the Lake Cowichan Apollos, the three-team league will be playing home-and-home games until February, when a playoff format will determine the West Coast Senior Hockey League champion. The winner will earn a berth in the prestigious 2025 Coy Cup in Prince Rupert.
The game at the Nanaimo Ice Centre got off to a fast start, with the Steelmen striking early on rookie goaltender Dieter Macintosh. Despite being down 1-0, the Regals controlled much of the first period, outshooting their opponents and creating numerous scoring opportunities. Former Regal and now Nanaimo goaltender, Riley Medves, stood tall, making a series of impressive saves to keep his old team off the scoreboard.
In the second period, the Steelmen extended their lead on an early power-play goal, going up 2-0. The Regals responded with a highlight-reel goal from Brock Sawyer, who took the puck end-to-end to cut the deficit to 2-1. However, costly turnovers plagued the Regals, and by the end of the second period, they found themselves trailing 5-1.
The Regals bounced back in the third, dominating much of the play and creating several chances. Rookie and former Powell River King, Ryan Pouliot, scored his first of the season on a well-executed play set up by Brett Kinley and Jared Winkel. Later in the period, Trevor Burnett added a short-handed goal, assisted by Winkel, to make it 6-3. Despite their strong finish, the Regals couldn’t close the gap, and the game ended with Nanaimo on top.
It was a promising outing for the Regals' newcomers, with standout performances from players like Bryson Cecconi, who had several scoring chances but was unable to convert. The Regals are expecting a full lineup next weekend as they prepare to host the Jackson Hole Wyoming Moose in their highly anticipated season opener.
Fans can expect plenty of excitement as the Regals aim to start their campaign strong and build momentum toward the 2025 Coy Cup.
