Kings win by committee against Clippers

Brent Forster - RDC

Red Deer, AB - The Red Deer College Kings' quick and balanced attack was just too much in the end for the Briercrest College Clippers. Eleven Kings hit the scoresheet, including five players with multiple points. The Kings scored four in the opening 20 minutes and eventually skated to a 7-1 win. 

The RDC Kings were ready at the drop of the puck. Tyrell Mappin and Dylan Thudium put the home team up a pair within five minutes. About midway through the frame, Jacob Wozney struck on the power play. Before the intermission, Kyle Salaway beat Clippers goaltender Dan Dekoning, giving the Kings a four goal cushion.

Over 20 minutes, the Kings controlled the play and fired 20 shots at Dekoning. 

"Last weekend, we seemed to take a little bit of time to get going, so we talked about initiating everything tonight," says Kings Head Coach Trevor Keeper. "One of the things we talked about was scoring early and putting pressure on them. The guys did that."

Lynnden Pastachak and Dylan Thudium added goals in the middle stanza. 

Chase Thudium (10) assisted on brother Dylan's second tally

The teams traded goals in the third. Regan Doig added the Kings' seventh marker only 13 seconds in to the period. As the game was winding down, Jamieson Ree beat Arik Weersink on the power play, breaking the shutout bid. 

Keeper thought his team's puck management was effective in the 7-1 victory.

"We took the puck to the net, but we didn't throw pucks away," he says. "We made plays - lots of good speed, creating two-on-ones all over the place."

Both Lynnden Pastachak and Kyle Salaway contributed three points.

Dylan Thudium was named the Collegiate Sports Medicine Kings Player-of-the-Game. In 11 games, the RDC Bachelor of Business Administration student has nine points.

"As our only fifth-year player, we really appreciate his leadership. He's a very smart player and has great hockey sense," says Keeper. "It's tough because he's in his final year and only gets to practice twice out of four times every week. Sometimes that affects your rhythm, but he's such a smart player, so he can make up for that."

Jamieson Ree was recognized for the Clippers.

The Kings dominated the shot clock 46-18 and wanted to get to Dekoning early.

"We know they have a very good goaltender," says Keeper. "Last year I think we had 159 shots in two games against them, and one of the games went to overtime."

RDC went one-for-five on the power play. Briercrest College struck once on three tries.

Carter Wolski (8)

The second place RDC Kings (9-1-1-0) will host the Briercrest College Clippers (3-6-1-1) at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre. 

The Kings will look for another strong effort in the second game of the weekend series.

"One of our big things this year is being a good team all of the time," says Keeper. "The past couple years, we've been at the top of the league, or right there, and we've had some games where we've let our foot off the gas pedal a little bit. This year, our focus is being consistent. Sitting at 9-1-1, the guys are doing a better job of that."

Trevor Costello (28) and Austin Hunter (14)