Special teams help Kings shelf Trojans

Red Deer, AB - With a balanced attack, the RDC Kings downed the SAIT Trojans 6-3 at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre, remaining in a tie for first place.

It was a power play goal from a RDC defenceman that provided an early edge at 4:29. Dylan Baer skated into the middle of the ice and wristed one past Trojans' goaltender Jordan Cartney with traffic in front for his fourth goal in the past two games. Ryley Smith had the lone assist. Less than three minutes later, SAIT's Brendan Bartlett fired a shot from the left side that eluded Troy Trombley for the 1-1 equalizer. Within a 2 minute 37 second span, a one-timer from Tanner Butler on the man advantage and a backhander by Anthony Neurauter provided RDC a two goal cushion (3-1).

At 9:01 of the middle frame, Ryley Smith put the Kings ahead 4-1. The six-foot-one forward received a pass out front, depositing it past Cartney. Chance Longjohn and Mike Statchuk earned the assists. Then in a four and a half minute span, Colton McCarthy and Zach McNeill pulled the Trojans within one. The Kings restored a two goal lead before the period expired. RDC's Kyle Salaway was the benefactor of a passing play from Tyrell Mappin and Lynnden Pastachak, and the left winger from Estevan, Saskatchewan found an open cage past a scrambling Cartney. 

The Kings' 5-3 lead remained in tact for the majority of the third. Cartney was eventually pulled for the extra skater and Austin Hunter capitalized with 1:07 remaining to help the Kings cap off a 6-3 win at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.

Cartney made 30 saves on 35 shots. Trombley turned aside 38 out of 40 shots (0.950).

With the extra skater, the Trojans went 0-for-4 while the Kings clicked at 40 per cent efficiency.

Anthony Neurauter was selected as the Kings Player-of-the-Game with a goal and Zach McNeil picked up the honour for the Trojans with a single tally.

The Kings remain in a tie with the MacEwan University Griffins with 17 points. SAIT, NAIT and Augustana are deadlocked with 14 points. 

On Saturday, November 17, the RDC Kings (8-2-0-1) will challenge the SAIT Trojans (7-4-0-0) at 7:00 p.m. in Calgary.