Heidt and Kings defeat Ooks on consecutive nights

Brent Forster - RDC

Edmonton, AB - It was the start to the season that the Red Deer College Kings had mapped out. In back-to-back games, the RDC Kings defeated the NAIT Ooks, outscoring them by a total of 9 - 4.

After trailing in the second period Saturday evening, the Kings showed great resolve and battled back to defeat the NAIT Ooks 3 - 2 on the road to earn four of a possible four points in the standings over the weekend. 

The RDC Kings hit the scoresheet first. While killing a penalty, Jacob Wozney scored on Brendan Jensen at 3:16 of the first period on a breakaway for a 1 - 0 lead.

That one goal margin held up until 1:18 of the second period, when NAIT's Jake Mykitiuk evened the contest. The Ooks would go ahead at 7:50 from an Austin Pickford tally, but with 4:01 remaining RDC's Ross Heidt knotted the game 2 - 2. Dylan Baer would earn the lone assist. 

The Kings entered the third period with energy and it only took Scott Ferguson 41 seconds to find the back of the net on the power play. Ross Heidt and Tanner Butler recorded the helpers. 

NAIT Head Coach Tim Fragle pulled Jensen with 37 seconds remaining but the Ooks couldn't generate the tying goal. The Red Deer College Kings earned a 3 - 2 road victory and defeated last season's Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) silver medal winning Ooks in consecutive games. 

The RDC Kings outshot the NAIT Ooks 38 - 31. Troy Trombley had another good game in net, stopping 29 out of 31 shots (0.935). 

Head Coach Trevor Keeper liked the Kings ability to battle back. "It was a tougher game tonight. NAIT plays well in their own rink and it was a tight game," he says. "We overcame some adversity after being down in the second period."

Ross Heidt (74)

Ross Heidt, a Bachelor of Education student from Red Deer, picked up two important points in Edmonton. For his efforts, the speedy left winger was named the Kings Player-of-the-Game. "Ross used his speed effectively and was physical tonight," says Keeper. "He tied the game and then set up the game winning goal on the power play." 

The Red Deer College Kings had an outstanding weekend and had aspirations for a fast start this season. "One of our goals this season was to hit the ground running," says Keeper. "The guys came into camp ready and in good shape, and we wanted to start quickly. Last season it took us a little bit to get going."

On Friday, October 12, the RDC Kings (2 - 0) will face-off against the University of Alberta Augustana Vikings (2 - 0) at 7:30 p.m. in Camrose.