Kings win 5-2 over Thunder

At the Penhold Multiplex, the Red Deer College Kings Hockey team played host to the Concordia University Thunder. Devon Fordyce got the start in the Kings net while Tanner McCorriston was in goal for the Thunder. The Kings opened the scoring and never trailed, skating their way to a 5-2 victory.

On home ice the RDC Kings came out hard and Riley Simpson opened the scoring at 14:36. Landon Kletke and Tyler Berkholtz picked up the assists. One minute six seconds later Chance Thomas from the Thunder tied the game up 1-1. With 1:27 left in the first period, Scott Ferguson put the Kings up 2-1. Jordan McTaggart and Tanner Butler added the assists. After 20 minutes of play the RDC Kings tested McCorriston 13 times while the Thunder had 9 shots on Fordyce.

Kings defenceman Trevor Costello put RDC up 3-1 at 3:47 of the second period. Dylan Thudium and Ben Williams added assists. Thirty-eight seconds later Dylan Baer extended the Kings lead 4-1. Baer was set up by Austin Hunter and Mike Statchuk. In the second period shots were even 9-9.

In the third period, Thunder's Ian McLellan narrowed the lead 4-2 when he scored at 6:15. Concordia pulled their goalie and Tyler Berkholtz found the open net with 51 seconds left in the game to seal the 5-2 home victory. Landon Kletke and Trevor Costello picked up the helpers. The Kings had 9 shots compared to 7 from the Thunder. Final shots were 31-25 in favour of the RDC Kings.

The Kings went 0-for-1 on the power play and were perfect on the penalty kill, not allowing a goal on 8 Thunder man advantages. Devon Fordyce stopped 23-of-25 shots.

Kings Head Coach Trevor Keeper thought it was a good game overall.

"We had a little bit of a lapse that seemed to give them some life," said Keeper. "It was about a four minute period but we got back to what we want to be doing and improved at managing the puck."

Trevor Costello was named the Kings player-of-the-game. 

Keeper was pleased with the play from the Management Certificate student.

"Trevor did a nice job tonight using his size and reach," said Keeper. "He was effective on the penalty kill and made smart decisions. Trevor picked up his first ACAC goal tonight and added an assist."

In a weekend rematch, the Concordia Thunder host the RDC Kings Saturday, Nov. 19 at 8:15 p.m.