Photo by Jake Arts
Article by Dylan Baker
The Kings were in action for two games this weekend, as per usual, but neither came on home ice at the Wellness Centre, as they travelled to Strathroy on Saturday night and were in Elmira on Sunday evening.
On Saturday, on the road, the Kings visited the Rockets for their first matchup against their second-closest rival by distance. The Kings fell behind in the first period, when Owen Gray scored a power play goal at the tail end of a 5-on-3 power play for Strathroy. Less than a minute later, Schaap found the back of the net and made it two nothing Rockets.
After a scoreless second, the Rockets scored five minutes into the third, to make it three nothing. Seven minutes later, the Rockets added another power play goal to make it four nothing. These were just the third and fourth power play goals that the Kings have conceded on the road this season. The Kings fell by a score of 4-0, with Owen Edwards stopping 34 out of 38 shots.
Sunday, the Kings made the trip to Elmira to face off with the Sugar Kings, for the first time in GOJHL history. The franchises had met previously, but only at showcase events or in Kings home games.
Ryan Burroughs got the start in goal for Komoka, and he would be the story of the game. There was no scoring in the first period, with Burroughs stopping all 15 shots he had to face. This was just the second time this season the Kings did not concede a first period goal, the first being at home vs. Sarnia on October 12th. They then scored the first goal of the game for the first time since the game versus Sarnia, as Seth Huygen scored in close on a nice feed from Ethan Alexander. Just a minute and a half later, Senan Moore found a Trent Walker rebound and ripped it from the slot, scoring his first GOJHL goal, making it 2-0 Kings after 40 minutes.
In the third, Komoka did a good job shutting down Elmira, including killing off a 5-on-3. They gave up a late goal to Joey Martin at the 17:03 mark of the third, but closed things down from there, earning a hard-fought 2-1 victory. Ryan Burroughs stopped 42 out of 43 shots, in a terrific performance, earning his first GOJHL victory and Nothers Player of the Game honours.
The Kings are back in action this weekend, for crossover play, as they take on the St. Catharines Falcons on home ice on Saturday, before travelling to Pelham on Sunday afternoon.
Top Statistical Performers from the Weekend:
Ryan Burroughs: 1 GP, 1 GA, 42 SVS, W (1.00 GAA, .976 SV%)
Senan Moore: 1 GP, 1-0-1
Seth Huygen: 2 GP 1-0-1
Ethan Alexander: 2 GP 0-1-1
Trent Walker: 2 GP 0-1-1
Owen Edwards: 34 SVS