The Merritt Centennials kept their cool and crowned the Kings by a score of 5-3.
In the first period the Kings struck first on a two man advantage, and it was Ryan Brushett to make it 1-0. The Cents found the answer with Vincent Guy after Frazer Dodd turned the puck over to tie the game at 1-1. The Kings regained the lead on a PP goal to lead 2-1 after 1.
In the middle frame, the Cents got the lone goal from Matt Kopperud on a two man advantage to tie the game 2-2 after 2.
The Cents converted early in the third period on the powerplay when Christian Sabin took a hit in the corner, got back up, went to the net, and banged in a pass from Cocca to give the Cents their first lead 3-2. The lead didn’t last long as on the next powerplay opportunity the Kings scored shorthanded. The Cents answered just 30 seconds later on the same powerplay when Cocca got a one-time past Adamyk to restore the one goal lead 4-3. Nick Granowicz iced the game with an empty netter in the final minute to make it a 5-3 final.
Austin Roden stopped 30/33 shots for the win.
After the game, Head Coach Joe Martin praised the team for keeping their cool.
“Powell River got a little undisciplined, and we really did well to not get sucked into their game.”
Next up the Nanaimo Clippers tomorrow night.
