Komoka Kings edge the St Thomas Stars 3-2 in a hard and tough fought game on Saturday night at the Komoka Wellness Centre.
Both teams came out to play with each team challenging the opposing net. The Stars opened the scoring at 7:46 of the first period. Kings came right back to tie it at 8:33 on Luc Arsenault’s 5th of the season, assisted by Spencer Lapointe and Cameron Welch. The Kings continued their strong play but were unable to put another puck behind the Stars goal line. The first period ended at 1-1 with Komoka having a 16-8 advantage in shots on net.
In the second period Bryce Lewis scored his 4th of the season at 3:01 assisted by Blake McConnell-Barker and Dario Beljo. It was Bryce’s first goal as a King since coming over in a trade with the London Nationals. Stars scored at 12:52 to tie the game at 2-2. Komoka had 11 shots in the period and the Stars took 10 on the Kings net but no further scoring to end the second period at 2-2.
At 1:03 of the 3rd period Kurt Watson was fed by Blake McConnell-Barker and Jacob Rochford to score his 19th of the season giving the Kings a 3-2 lead. Both teams had strong offensive rushes in the period and solid defense kept either teams from any further scoring. The Stars pulled their goalie in the last minute and controlled the puck in the Kings end but tight forechecking and great defensive effort by the Kings held the Stars from getting any dangerous shots and giving Kings Owen Say the victory in a 3-2 Kings win. Shots were 7-7 in the 3rd period for an overall 34-25 advantage by the Kings.
Komoka went 0 for 5 chances on the power play, and the Stars were 0 for 3.
Kurt Watson was selected the game’s 1st star, Bryce Lewis 2nd star, and Spencer Lapointe 3rd star, with honourable mention to Blake McConnell-Barker who had 2 assists.
With the win Kings go to 17 wins, 18 losses, 1 OT loss and 1 OT tie for 36 points in 37 games and a 3 point margin over the Strathroy Rockets for 6th place in the division. Kings are 3 points behind the 5th place LaSalle Vipers with one game in hand.
The evening was Gateway Community Church and Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs Night feathering skills demonstrations by the Chiefs’ Atom players, and the Gateway Community Church 2nd Annual Food Drive brought in a large assortment of canned and non-perishable food items for the community food bank. A win, win, win cooperation in the community.
