Smith and Kings ride strong third to victory over Voyageurs

Brent Forster - RDC

Red Deer, AB – An offensive outburst in the third period pushed the Red Deer College Kings over the Portage College Voyageurs Friday evening. The visitors held a goal lead in the final 20 minutes and then the Kings' offence gained traction. The home team scored a trio of markers in the final frame, sealing a 5-3 home win. 

"It's important that we got the two points because we worked hard in third period especially, having a three goal third," said Kings Head Coach Trevor Keeper.

Nearly six minutes into the first period, Portage College found the back of the cage. Kaleb Bell drove the net and tipped a shot from the high circle past Kings goaltender Arik Weersink.

It didn't take long for the home team to respond on the power play. Ninety-one seconds later, Mathieu Lapointe connected with Chase Thudium down low. The Business Administration student quickly spun out front and tucked it behind Voyageurs netminder Taryn Kotchorek for his 11th of the season. 

Before the end of the stanza Portage College grabbed the lead. Adam Crowe intercepted a pass behind the RDC net and quickly dished out front to Cole Keenleyside, who found twine.

"We have been good in our d-zone, our forecheck, our reloads, everything to get the puck back. A lot of times when we have the puck in our half of the ice, we're making wide passes that get picked off or missing guys by six inches or a foot," stated Keeper. "That's just communicating and being an option and getting your timing right." 

The Kings evened the contest 3:44 into the middle frame. Six-foot-one right winger Ryley Smith picked up a loose puck in the offensive zone and when it looked like he'd circle the net, he spotted Mathieu Lapointe out front, who quickly snapped it by Kotchorek's glove. Chance Longjohn had the other helper.

Less than a minute later, Keenleyside potted his second. After stripping the puck near the Kings' blue line, he found himself in alone on Weersink and shelved it for a 3-2 edge.

"The biggest thing I think was our puck management. We were in control and were advancing it up ice and on our half we were turning the puck over too much. It was an issue last weekend as well," said Keeper. "We worked on it all week in practice and it's just a focus thing. It's not just the puck carrier, it's the guys getting open and calling, and cutting through seams, and timing. If we can clean that up tomorrow, once we get over the red line and into the offensive zone, we are happy with what we're doing."

About mid-way through the final frame, Scott Ferguson passed to Dylan Thudium in the slot and the fifth-year fired it past Kotchorek's glove to even the contest 3-3. Boedy Donald, a first-year defenceman from Star City, Saskatchewan, added a helper.

Ferguson (17)

Then minutes later Ryley Smith jammed home a rebound, providing the home team their first lead. 

With 1:24 remaining, Kotchorek was pulled for the extra attacker but Portage College couldn't find the equalizer.

Jacob Wozney hit the empty net, helping the Kings solidify a 5-3 home victory.

Ryley Smith was selected the Collegiate Sports Medicine Kings Player-of-the-Game. The Ryley Smith-Chance Longjohn-Mathieu Lapointe line was effective again, combining for six points.

"Longjohn is really good at protecting the puck. He's hard to get off the puck down low. Ryley is so fast and agile and it's hard to trap him. Lapointe is really strong on the puck," said Keeper. "He shoots, he outmuscles guys. The combination of those three skillsets seems to really be working. They've been one of our best lines, if not, maybe our best line for the past two or three weeks."

Cole Keenleyside was recognized for the Voyageurs.

Weersink turned aside 16 out of 19 shots. Korchorek made 35 saves.

The RDC Kings connected once on five power plays. The Voyageurs went zero-for-four.

The second place Kings (16-5-2-0) and Voyageurs (0-22-1-0) will face-off on Saturday at 1:00 pm.