It was a historic win for the Terrace River Kings two weekends ago, beating last year’s league champions the Smithers Steelheads 4-1 on Steelhead ice Nov. 16.
The game was the second of a two week road stint that saw them fall 5-4 in overtime to the Houston Luckies Nov. 9, securing a point and chipping into the Luckies’ first place standing in the 2013/2014 Central Interior Hockey League season.
The game against the Luckies opened with a goal by assistant captain Josh Murray halfway into the first period, assists to Rich Clair and Ben Reinbolt. Not 30 seconds later, the Kings made it 2-0 with one by Calen Findlay, assists to Rajan Sangha and Tristan Murray.
Houston tied it up in the first three minutes of the second, with a Kings’ goal by Murray (shorthanded, assist by Sangha) and an answer by the Luckies on the powerplay leaving the score at 3-3 at the end of the period. Captain Steve Cullis, assists Reinbolt and Murray, looked to finish the Luckies off with a goal at 18:14 of the third, but the Luckies shot one in with only eight seconds left to take the game to overtime, taking 45 seconds to get the extra point and the win.
The game saw 34 penalty minutes total, with 14 going to the Kings and 20 to the Luckies.
This near-win clearly left the Kings hungry heading into their game against Smithers Nov. 16. While the Steelheads were first on the board in the opening period, the Kings had the next four in a row.
Shots on goal were even with 40 a piece, credit to Kings’ goalie Garrett Muir for the win. The game saw 48 penalty minutes total, 22 for the Kings, 26 for the Steelheads.
The Kings will face off against both teams again this weekend on home ice – with Smithers visiting Saturday night and Houston here for a Sunday matinee.
