RDP Kings capture game one over Vikings in semi-finals

Red Deer, AB – Special teams played a big role in game one of the best-of-three semi-final between the Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) Kings and University of Alberta Augustana Vikings.

The RDP Kings scored twice on the power play and killed off all the Vikings' opportunities with the extra skater, earning a 3-2 victory at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.

The visitors opened the scoring at 7:22 of the first period. Vikings' fourth-year forward Owen Lamb moved from behind RDP's net into open space and beat Kings goaltender Arik Weersink on the short side.

Then the Kings' power play went to work in the second period. At 7:02, Sylvan Lake's Hayden Clayton cashed in a rebound past Vikings netminder Daniel Moody to knot the game 1-1.

Less than a minute later, Lane Kirk went high over Weersink's glove, putting Augustana up a goal.

Before the end of the period, the Polytechnic tied the game 2-2. Kings captain Chance Longjohn made a toe drag in the high slot and quickly released it behind Moody.

Then early in the third period, the Kings' power play clicked again. After Moody made the initial save, Erik Miller fired the rebound into the empty net.

Miller received the North Star Sports Kings Player of the Game. Tanner Manz earned the Vikings Player of the Game, recording a pair of assists.

Weersink made 19 saves (0.905). Moody turned aside 26 shots (0.897).

The RDP Kings' power play went two-for-six. They also killed off all six of Augustana's power plays.

On Saturday, the University of Alberta Augustana Vikings will host the RDP Kings in game two at 6 pm. If necessary, the third and deciding game will be played at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre on Sunday at 7 pm.