Kings win on home ice over persistent Voyageurs squad

Red Deer, AB – The Portage College Voyageurs made the Red Deer College Kings work for the two points Friday night. The visitors held a lead in the third period and then the Kings' offence gained traction. The RDC Kings scored three times in the final frame, sealing a 5-3 home win. 

Nearly six minutes into the first period, Portage College found the back of the cage. Kaleb Bell drove the net and tipped a shot from the high circle past Kings goaltender Arik Weersink.

It didn't take too long for the home team to respond on the power play. Ninety-one seconds later Mathieu Lapointe connected with Chase Thudium down low. The Business Administration  student quickly spun out front and tucked it behind Voyageurs netminder Taryn Kotchorek.

Before the end of the stanza Portage College grabbed the lead. Adam Crowe intercepted an attempted pass behind the RDC net and quickly dished out front. Cole Keenleyside found twine.

The Kings evened the contest 3:44 into the middle frame. Ryley Smith picked up a loose puck in the offensive zone and when it looked like he'd circle the net, he spotted Lapointe out front, who quickly snapped it by Kotchorek's glove. Chance Longjohn had the other helper.

Less than a minute later, Keenleyside potted his second. After stripping the puck near the Kings' blue line, he found himself in alone on Weersink and shelved it over the glove for a 3-2 edge.

About mid-way through the frame, Scott Ferguson connected with Dylan Thudium in the slot and the fifth-year fired it past Kotchorek's glove to even the contest 3-3. Then minutes later Ryley Smith jammed home a rebound, providing the home team their first lead. With 1:24 remaining, Kotchorek was pulled for the extra attacker but Portage College couldn't find the equalizer.

Jacob Wozney hit the empty net, helping the Kings solidify a 5-3 home victory.

Ryley Smith was selected the Collegiate Sports Medicine Kings Player-of-the-Game. Cole Keenleyside was recognized for the Voyageurs.

Weersink turned aside 16 out of 19 shots. Korchorek made 35 saves.

The RDC Kings connected once on five power plays. The Voyageurs went zero-for-four.

The second place Kings (16-5-2-0) and Voyageurs (0-22-1-0) will face-off on Saturday at 1:00 pm.