Vikings over Kings in close contest

The second game of the home-and-home series between the University of Alberta Augustana Vikings and Red Deer College Kings Hockey team took place at the Penhold Multiplex Saturday. Troy Trombley once again started in goal for the Kings while Curtis Skip started in net for the Vikings. The RDC Kings got down 2-0 and couldn't close the gap, falling 5-3 to the Vikings.

Owen Sobchak, who previously played for the Keyano College Huskies, opened the scoring for the Vikings at 8:26 into the first period. As the period progressed the Kings generated a few more scoring opportunities. With under 8 minutes remaining, Ben Williams fired a shot from the left circle but Skip made the save. About a minute later David Heath jumped into the rush and created a 2-on-1 opportunity. Heath elected to shoot from the left side and just missed high on the glove side. The Vikings tried to extend their lead on an odd man rush but Kings defenceman Tanner Butler did a nice job of breaking up the play.

After 20 minutes of play, shots were even at 9-9. 

Augustana generated several quality scoring opportunities in the first few minutes of the second period but Trombley was sharp early. At 5:02 Pat Thompson-Gale put one by the Kings goalie and the Vikings were up 2-0. Thompson-Gale deked around a defender in the slot and shot on the glove side. Trombley stopped a piece of it but the puck had enough momentum to cross the line. 

On the power play Kings forward Dylan Thudium blasted a one-timer to narrow the lead 2-1 with 9:53 left in the middle frame. From the point, Zak Hicks passed the puck to David Heath on the right side of the Vikings zone. Heath sent a beautiful cross ice pass to Thudium who wasted no time firing it past Skip on his off wing.

With 5:18 remaining in the second period Dylan Baer tied up the game 2-2. Trevor Costello and Dustin Gorgi picked up the assists.

Connor McLaughlin scored shorthanded to put the Vikings up 3-2 with 16 seconds remaining in the period. Jeff Lorenz sent the puck across the crease and McLaughlin crashed the net, banging the loose puck in.

Shots in the second period were 13 for the Kings and 11 for the Vikings.

The RDC Kings pressed to tie the game in the third period. Riley Simpson had a good backhand opportunity in the slot but Skip made a nice glove save.

With 7:36 left in the final period the Vikings went up 4-2 on an unassisted goal by Adam Osczevski. On a broken play, Osczevski banged the puck in from the side of the net. The Kings called a time-out with 1:29 left in the third period and created several good chances. David Heath narrowed the gap 4-3 with 45 seconds remaining. Riley Simpson took the puck around the net and sent it back to the point for Heath who buried the hard wrister high on the glove side. Augustana scored into the empty net with a few seconds remaining to seal a 5-3 win.

In the third period the Kings tested Skip 9 times while the Vikings had 8 shots on Trombley. RDC finished with a game total of 31 shots, while Augustana had 28 shots.

Dylan Thudium was named the Kings player-of-the-game.  

Final shots were 31 for the Kings and 28 for the Vikings.

The Kings defence joined the rush on several occasions in an attempt to boost the offence and contributed 1 goal and 3 assists from the blue line.

"We always try to create a four man rush with one of our d-men jumping in and all of our d-men are capable of doing that," said Kings Head Coach Trevor Keeper. "We just have to manage the puck in our own end. We want to break out with one or two passes and get to the neutral zone." 

Keeper views the loss as a learning experience for the team.

"Last night we dominated in many areas of the game. I knew that Augustana would come back harder after losing 4-1 at home," said Keeper. "We were a little casual at the beginning - the guys without the puck had trouble supporting the puck. Nobody was real assertive getting open and calling for passes and we coughed up some pucks. It's focus and concentration. We were a little bit too casual tonight, when last night we were sharp so there's no excuse for that. We have to learn to do that every game. We've been doing a great job the past few weekends so maybe a little wake up call is what we need."

The RDC Kings will host Concordia University of Edmonton at the Penhold Multiplex Friday, Nov. 18 at 7:00 p.m.