Special teams power RDP Kings to playoff win over Vikings
Red Deer, AB – Special teams played a significant role in game one of the best-of-three semi-final between the Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) Kings and University of Alberta Augustana Vikings.
The RDP Kings scored twice on the power play and killed off all the Vikings' opportunities with the extra skater, earning a 3-2 victory at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.
The visitors opened the scoring at 7:22 of the first period. Vikings' fourth-year forward Owen Lamb moved from behind RDP's net into open space and beat Kings fifth-year goaltender Arik Weersink on the short side.
Then the Kings' power play went to work in the second period. At 7:02, Sylvan Lake's Hayden Clayton cashed in a rebound behind Vikings third-year netminder Daniel Moody to knot the game 1-1.
Less than a minute later, Lane Kirk went high over Weersink's glove, putting Augustana up a goal.
Before the end of the period, the Polytechnic tied the game 2-2. Kings captain Chance Longjohn, who is a Bachelor of Education student, made a nice toe drag in the high slot and quickly released it behind Moody.
Then early in the third period, the Kings' power play clicked again. After Moody made the initial save, third-year forward Erik Miller fired the rebound into the empty net.
Miller (94)
The Vikings pulled Moody late in the stanza, but they couldn't find the equalizer. The Kings solidified a 3-2 decision.
Miller received the North Star Sports Kings Player of the Game. Tanner Manz, who is a former member of the Estevan Bruins, earned the Vikings Player of the Game with a pair of assists.
Weersink made 19 saves (0.905). Moody turned aside 26 shots (0.897).
Weersink (72)
The RDP Kings' power play went two-for-six. They also killed off all six of Augustana's power plays.
On Saturday, the University of Alberta Augustana Vikings will host the RDP Kings in game two at 6 pm. If necessary, the third and deciding game will be played at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre on Sunday at 7 pm.
Kevin Minnoch (34)