Hockey Kings drop road game against NAIT

The Red Deer College Kings Hockey team headed up the highway Saturday to face the NAIT Ooks in a weekend rematch.

NAIT used home ice to their advantage and scored at 10:59 and again at 16:51 for a 2-0 lead in the opening period. After 20 minutes of play the Ooks outshot the Kings 18-12.

As the 2nd period began the Kings didn't quit and narrowed the gap on a goal by Riley Simpson at 9:39 of the middle frame. On the power play David Heath tied the game with one second remaining on the clock. Each team had 14 shots in the 2nd period.

The Kings Head Coach liked the play of several of his players tonight including the effort from the captain.

"Riley Simpson competed hard tonight," said Trevor Keeper. "He scored our first goal and his point streak continues. With Tyler Berkholtz out of the lineup, Ben Williams filled in for him on that line and really stepped up."

NAIT opened the scoring in the 3rd period at 1:31. The Ooks then scored four more goals in about six minutes to take a 7-2 lead. The Kings Head Coach switched goaltenders in an attempt to halt NAIT's momentum.

Zak Hicks of the Kings scored a power play goal at 19:33 and the game ended 7-3. The Kings had 13 shots in the final period while NAIT fired 15 at Troy Trombley and Devon Fordyce. 

Final shots were 48-39 for the Ooks.

Despite the final score Keeper was impressed with one line's defensive abilities.

"The line of (Austin) Hunter, (Logan) Sceviour and (Scott) Ferguson were matched up against NAIT's top line and didn't allow them to score," said Keeper. "We were proud of them."

The Kings went two-for-four on the power play while NAIT was successful on one-of-five advantages.

Defenseman Zak Hicks had a strong game and contributed on the power play.

"Zak played well tonight," said Keeper. "He had a goal on the power play and an assist on Heath's goal."

Tanner Butler from Souris, Manitoba also had a solid game on the blue line and was named the player-of-the-game for the RDC Kings.

In exhibition Friday, Oct. 14 at the Penhold Multiplex the Kings face the University of Alberta Augustana Vikings at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 RDC takes on the Innisfail Eagles in exhibition action. The Eagles are coached by Brian Sutter, a former NHL player and coach.