Kings impress in first two preseason games.
Weekend Recap is presented by Iris Optometry. (Header Photo by Darren Francis Photography)
After a week of training camp the Kings headed to the mainland to open up the preseason with a double header that started Saturday night in Chilliwack against the Chiefs.
Just minutes into the game the Kings would take advantage on the power play when newly minted captain Casey Aman would fire a wrist shot from the point and find its way through traffic to be Chiefs netminder Cole Savage to give the Kings the early lead. The Kings would add another at the 8 minute mark of the period when defenceman Sam Schoenfeld crossed the Chiefs blue line and took a long shot with the intentioned if dumping the puck and heading off for a change, but to his luck it fooled Savage and went in to give the Kings the 2-0 lead after the opening period outshooting the Chiefs 13 – 4.
The Chiefs would get one back 6 minutes into the second as Sasha Teleguine stepped out of the penalty box and was the receiver of an arrand pass from the Kings which sent Teleguine on a breakaway and beat Kyle Metson with a deke. The Kings would restore the two goal cushion later in the period on the power play once again when last years leading scorer Parker Lalonde would load up from the left circle and fired on on goal which Savage stopped a piece of but it wasn’t enough as the puck trickled over the goal line. Chilliwack would get it back late in the period to reduce the Kings lead to one heading into the final period.
The Chiefs would press for the equalizer in the third but the Kyle Metson and the Kings D stood tall on this night making saves and blocking shots. The Kings would get the two goal lead back immediately after they killed a penalty when Caleb Bentham made a nice touch pass to Nic Porchetta who was send on a breakaway and roofed the puck with the backhand to make it 4-2 for the Kings. The Power Play would strike again later in the third when Will Jones shot a laser from the high slot to make it a 5-2 which would end up being the final tally. The Kings would go 3 for 7 on the power play while the penalty kill would go 3 for 3. Parker Lalonde, Will Jones, and Nic Porchetta all finished with a goal and an assist while Kyle Metson stopped 17 of 19 shots he faced while the Kings outshot the Chiefs 38-19.
On Sunday the Kings would look to keep the preseason momentum rolling with a matchup against the Langley Rivermen. Once again the Kings would get off to a quick start after Langley D-man Ryan Bahl whiffed on a clearing attempt and Cam Symons picked up the puck and fed Anthony Lucarelli fired a one time past Ajeet Gundarah to give the Kings the early lead. Just like on Saturday the Kings would get off to a 2 goal lead when Ryder Ringor fed Nic Porchetta from behind the net and Porchetta potted in the pass to score his second of the preseason as the Kings would take the 2-0 lead all the way to the third period.
In the third the Kings would extend the lead when Parker Lalonde fed Cam Symons who has a lane to the net and he made a great deke in close which fooled Jamison Kaine who came in midway through the second period. The goal would be Cam Symons first of the preseason and turned out to be the game winner. Both teams would add one more each, Hayden Gelbard would score for Langley while Nic Porchetta scored his second of the game after he stole the puck in the defensive zone, chipped it by Rivermen defender Garrett Valk in the natural zone before finishing it off with a great move to the backhand for the highlight reel goal as the Kings defeated the Rivermen 4-1. The Kings would remained perfect on the PK going 4 for 4 which included killing a 5 minute major. Liam Vanderkooi looked solid in his Kings debut making 28 saves in the victory as the Kings open the preseason with two wins.
Two exhibition games remain for the Kings which will take place this weekend in Port McNeill as they take on the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in a double header. Both games will not be available on Hockey TV.
The Kings open the season Friday September 23 as they host the Nanaimo Clippers. Join us outside the Hap for a tailgate party starting at 5pm hosted by the interact club of brooks and the Powell River Rotary Club (Barbecue by donation). Tickets are still available which you can get online at tickets.powellriverkings.com or at our office which is open 11am to 5pm Monday to Friday, and don’t forget that if you buy your season tickets by September 16 you are entered to win a game worn Kings jersey.