Berkholtz scores late, Kings defeat Voyageurs in Penhold

Brent Forster - RDC

The Red Deer College Kings Hockey team faced the Portage College Voyageurs Friday evening at the Penhold Multiplex, and the Kings tested the Voyageurs' goaltender often and were rewarded on the power play to seal a home win. The teams traded a pair of goals until Tyler Berkholtz scored with 9 seconds remaining in the third period to help the Kings earn the victory. 

Mike Salmon got the start in the RDC Kings' net while Olivier Charest was at the other end for the Voyageurs. 

The RDC Kings struck early in the first period. Scott Ferguson gave the Kings a 1-0 lead at 1:55. Tyler Podgorenko and Landon Kletke picked up the assists. At 11:06, the Voyageurs' Stephen Sisco tied the game 1-1. The Kings fired 12 shots at Charest while the Voyageurs tested Salmon 9 times over 20 minutes. 

At 3:17 of the middle frame, Tanner Butler put the RDC Kings up 2-1. Chase Thudium and Ben Williams picked up the helpers. The Kings peppered Charest with 16 shots while Salmon turned aside all 5 of Portage College's attempts in the period. 

At 15:40 of the third period, the Voyageurs' Jacob Vance tied the contest 2-2. The Kings persisted and with 9 seconds remaining on the clock, Tyler Berkholtz beat Charest for the game-winning-goal with the man advantage. Tanner Butler and Dylan Baer assisted on the goal and the RDC Kings earned a 3-2 home win. In the third period, the Kings fired another 16 shots at Charest while the Voyageurs responded with 6 shots on Salmon. Over 60 minutes, the Red Deer College Kings outshot the Portage College Voyageurs 44-20. Salmon made a total of 18 saves out of 20 shots for a 0.900 save percentage. 

Red Deer College Kings Hockey Head Coach Trevor Keeper appreciated the effort and noted discipline and the power play as differences in the game. "We played pretty well tonight in the win. We didn't give Portage College a single power play and we capitalized on one out of our three man advantages," said Keeper. "On our power play goal, we called a timeout with twenty seconds remaining in the game and Tyler Berkholtz scored with nine seconds left."

Keeper credited a few Kings with great efforts. "Tyler Berkholtz scored the winning goal for us and he played well tonight," said Keeper. "Tanner Butler was strong defensively and offensively, and picked up a goal and an assist."

In a rematch, the Kings (7-4-0-0) will compete against the Voyageurs (1-9-0-1) on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at the Penhold Multiplex.