Photo by Marissa Tiel
DENIED THE COMEBACK 鈥� Huskies captain Evan Campbell shoots on Terrace River Kingsgoalie Patrick Leal during Coy Cup round-robin action at Takhini Arena last night. Down by three late in the third period, the Huskies scored two fast goals in the dying minutes of the game to come up just short, 7-6 to Terrace.
After staging the comeback of the season against the Terrace River Kings last night,
After staging the comeback of the season against the Terrace River Kings last night, the Whitehorse Huskies fell just short of improving their Coy Cup round-robin record to 2-0-0. After exciting final minutes in the third period, they fell 7-6 to Terrace.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely tough when you鈥檙e down a few goals like that,鈥� said Huskies forward Ted Stephens. 鈥淭heir goalie was hot. You can鈥檛 get frustrated and you just have to keep working hard.鈥�
Stephens, who was named the game鈥檚 second star, had two goals and two assists last night and combined with linemates Kevin Petovello and Derek Klassen for 10 points.
鈥淛ust a couple lucky bounces,鈥� said Terrace goalie Patrick Leal, who was strong between the pipes for the River Kings.
鈥淲e had a bit of puck luck today and it just happened to go our way.鈥�
Petovello got the Huskies on the board first, finding the back of the net off of a rebound from Stephens. Klassen also picked up an assist.
With Kane Dawe in the box for roughing, Terrace鈥檚 Steve Cullis tied up the game.
Stephens then scored with assists from Klassen and Petovello to go up 2-1 after the first frame.
Momentum shifted in the second period as Terrace had three unanswered goals, including a pair from Luke Gordon, who was named the game鈥檚 first star.
The Huskies entered the third period down 4-2.
Less than two minutes into the last period, Klassen got the Huskies within one, making it 4-3.
A back and forth ensued, with River King鈥檚 Colton Braid making it 5-3 on a breakaway. Ben Reinbolt added to the buffer, to make it 6-3.
Then Stephens came back to score unassisted and bring the Huskies within two.
Down by three goals with minutes remaining in the game, the Huskies found the back of the net past Terrace goalie Patrick Leal, who had his first start of the tournament.
Huskies captain Evan Campbell and Adam Henderson got the Huskies within one with less than a minute remaining.
鈥淲e were down three there with two minutes left and we were kind of 鈥� it wasn鈥檛 looking good,鈥� said Stephens. 鈥淏ut we scored two quick ones and definitely it gave us kind of a new life there.
鈥淚t was close, but I mean, we鈥檙e still in it so we can鈥檛 complain.鈥�
The Huskies and the River Kings go to 1-1-0 and are tied for second in the round-robin standings.
鈥淎 complete rebound for us, it was awesome,鈥� said Leal of the win. 鈥淲e definitely needed it.鈥�
The River Kings dropped their first game against the Kelowna Sparta yesterday.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e (Huskies) a heck of a team and they did not stop at all so we鈥檙e really happy with ourselves right now. Huge win.鈥�
In the night鈥檚 other game, the Kelowna Sparta beat the North Island Capitals 6-1.
The Sparta remain the team to beat at their first trip to the Coy Cup with a 2-0-0 record.
They face Whitehorse tonight and are expected to have reinforcements arriving to face the host Huskies at 7 p.m. tonight after having only 11 players and two goalies for their opening game.
鈥淜elowna is a good team,鈥� said Stephens. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e all good skaters so we鈥檙e going to have to move our feet and play hard ... just tighten up a bit and I think we鈥檒l be fine.鈥�
The Capitals (0-2-0) need a win tonight against the Terrace River Kings to stay in the tournament. Puck drop for that game is 4 p.m.
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