Royals, Thunderbirds split back-to-back games | WHL

Royals, Thunderbirds split back-to-back games | WHL

Kukuca has two goals in 5-3 loss to Victoria on Wednesday

  • Thursday, February 7, 2019 7:28am
  • Sports

Andrej Kukuca scored two goals but it wasn’t enough as the Seattle Thunderbirds fell to the Victoria Royals 5-3 in a Western Hockey League game Wednesday night at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena in British Columbia.

This was the second of back-to-back games between the two teams. The T-Birds won 5-3 on Tuesday.

Seattle (20-25-5-1) remains one point ahead of the Kamloops Blazers for the second wild-card playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Goalie Roddy Ross made 34 saves on 38 shots, improving to 7-3-0-1. Ross made 41 saves in Tuesday’s win.

Seattle jumped out a to 1-0 lead 47 seconds into the first period. Tyler Carpendale intercepted a Victoria pass in the neutral and the sprung Henrik Rybinski on a partial breakaway. Rybinski skated at Victoria goalie Brock Gould and put a shot on net as he was being knocked down. Rybinski’s shot beat Gould through the legs just as Rybinski crashed into the net.

Victoria (26-21-1-2) tied the game 1-1 with 2:51 left in the first period on a goal from Phillip Schultz. Scott Walford and D-Jay Jerome had the assists.

The Royals went in front 3-1 in the second period on a power-play goal by Kaid Oliver at 3:52 and a goal from Schultz at 6:27.

Kukuca cut the Royals’ lead to one goal at 4:44 of the third period. Noah Philp got the puck out of the right corner with a short pass to Tyler Carpendale. Carpendale found Kukuca in slot and he took a shot. Kukuca got his own rebound and snapped it over Gould’s right shoulder for his 15th goal of the season.

Victoria took the two-goal lead back at 4:54 of the third on a goal from Dino Kambeitz.

A high-sticking penalty on Victoria late in the third gave the T-Birds an opportunity to cut the Royals’ lead. They took advantage as Kukuca scored his second of the night, at 16:07, to make it a one-goal lead for Victoria. Philp and Matthew Wedman had the assists.

The T-Birds pulled Ross for an extra attacker with 1:57 remaining in the game. Seattle pressed the play in the Victoria zone but Schultz hit the empty net with four seconds left to seal the win for the Royals.

Victoria outshot Seattle 39-25 in the game.

Gould had 22 saves on 25 shots.

Back home

The T-Birds return to home ice Friday for a 7:35 p.m. game against Portland at the accesso ShoWare Center. They play the Medicine Hat Tigers at 6:05 p.m. Saturday, also at ShoWare.

Tickets are on sale on the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare box office.

Fans who purchase the 24-Flex Ticket Package will be able to select any available premium seat for any game, in any ticket combination, during the 2018-19 season.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Seattle, Rybinski 3 (Carpendale), :47. 2, Victoria, Schultz 9 (Walford, Martynov), 17:09. Penalties – Kubicek, Vic (interference), 11:49. Mount, Sea (hooking) 15:35. Prowse, Vic (holding), 17:50.

Second period – 3, Victoria, Oliver 21 (McDonald, Walford), 3:52 (pp). 4, Victoria, Schultz 10 (Gulka, Sidaway), 6:27. Penalties – Rybinski, Sea (tripping), 3:18. McNelly, Sea (major-fighting, game misconduct), 13:17. Gulka, Vic (major-fighting, game misconduct), 13:17.

Third period – 5, Seattle, Kukuca 15 (Carpendale, Philp), 4:44. 6, Victoria, Kambeitz 8 (Fizer, Walford), 4:54. 7, Seattle, Kukuca 16 (Philp, Wedman), 16:07 (pp). 8, Victoria, Schultz 11 (Prowse), 19:55 (en). Penalties – Prowse, Vic (high-sticking), 14:47.

Shots on goal – Seattle 6-10-9 25, Victoria 13-13-13 39. Goalies – Seattle, Ross 38 shots-34 saves (7-3-0-1); Victoria, Gould 25-22 (6-7-2-0). Power plays – Seattle 1-2; Victoria 2-3. A – 3,189. Referees – Brett Iverson, Trevor Nolan. Linesmen – Cole Cooke, Liam Reid.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website http://kowloonland.com.hk/?big=submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in Sports

Graphic provided by Kent School District.
Kent Reporter Athletes of the Week: Kentwood

Dayna Vi (Jr.) wrestling and Brandon Tagle (Jr.) basketball take home this weeks awards.

Kentwood’s Jessica Ajayi dribbles the ball up the floor. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentwood girls basketball drops fourth straight

Team falls to Riverside for first time since 2017. Head Coach Jordan Nero: ‘We’ll find a way, we always do.’

t
Hundreds participate in Kent Christmas Rush run/walk

Seattle’s Nathan Morrisson wins 10K; Kent’s Travis Houser captures 5K

Graphic provided by KSD.
Kent Reporter Athlete of the Week: Kentridge

Genesis Miller (Flag Football) and Gio Moimoi (Basketball) take home this weeks award.

Veronica Garcia gives an interview after winning the 2A girls 400-meter final at the 2024 Washington State Championships at Mt. Tahoma High School in Tacoma. (Screenshot from Runnerspace.com video)
Proposals seek new rules for transgender athletes in WA schools

Other proposals target student-athlete transfer rules and girls flag football.

Tyanna Sims drives to the basket against Auburn in the loss. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Trojans sweep aside Kentwood in doubleheader

Both boys and girls basketball teams lose to Auburn in NPSL opening play.

Kentridge girls soccer surprised the three signees at Kentridge. Photo provided by @ETDPI on Instagram.
National Signing Day for Kentridge | Photos

Four Chargers offically signed to play college sports.

Graphic provided by Kent School District.
Athlete of the Week for Nov. 22: Kentwood

Nick Greutman (tennis) and Rowan Parsons (swim and dive) take home this weeks honors.

Kentridge senior Sierra Wallace dribbles the ball against Woodinville. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentridge girls soccer falls 4-0 in state

Chargers make round of eight for second time ever and run into Woodinville buzzsaw.

Senior running back Antoine Lee avoids a Trojan defender early in the game against Auburn. Ben Ray / The Reporter
4A NPSL all-league football teams announced

Kentwood’s Antoine Lee named Offensive Player of the Year.

Photo provided by Kent School District.
Kent Reporter Athletes of the Week: Kentridge

Addison Stendera and Riley Tricas take home this weeks awards.

Makenna Bennett in action against Tahoma back on Oct. 22 at Kentridge. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentridge girls soccer advances to state

Chargers make state for second consecutive year, take on Wenatchee.