Kings Clean up in North Bay
The Rideau St.Lawrence Kings traveled to North Bay Feb 1
for a three day tournament that would allow the Kings to come
home as champions. The Tournament started on Friday February 1
with a game versus the Kap Angles. The game started with a goal
at 7:20 in the first by Dave McGlade assisted by Andrew Beuman.
And the score would stay 1-0 until 2:57 of the 2nd where Alain
Goulet scored for Kap. The game wouldn't be tied for long because
with 26 seconds left in the 2nd Manny Horvath ( from Ryan
Sullivan) scored to give the Kings the winning goal. Then at 3:24 in
the third period Nathan Murray ( from Ryan Landon and Shawn
McFadden) scored the insurance goal and sealed a 3-1 victory for
the Kings. This was only the start!
The next day they faced off against Vaughan where the first
period was held scoreless. But at 6:35 of the 2nd Shawn McFadden(
from James Kirkwood) broke the stalemate. Then just under a
minute later Dave McGlade (from James Kirkwood and Manny
Horvath) would give the Kings a 2 goal cushion to sit on. It looked
as if Vaughan was mounting a comeback because the scored to
make it with one goal at with only 4:28 left in the period. But the
worst thing that could happen to Vaughan took place.. They took a
penalty with 47 seconds left in the game, because of this, Manny
Horvath ( from goaltender Karl Labelle) put the puck into the net
with only 13 seconds left in the game.
Later on that day they faced off against Nickel Center--a
team from the Sudbury area--. Karl Labelle looked great in this
game as the Kings and Karl shut out Nickel Center 3-0. Matt
McDowell got the ball rolling at 4:17 of the 1st with an unassisted
goal. The start of the period featured a massive line of penalties
to Rideau which would make one wonder if it was the same ref that
did the women's gold medal game. After finally killing off 5
consecutive penalties. Dave McGlade ( from James Kirkwood)
scored with only 1:46 left in the 2nd period. Ironically, this goal
came on a power play. The 3rd period wasn't as bad as the 2nd in
terms of penalties but it was similar in the way that the only goal
came at the very end of the period and it was the same person.
With 2:20 left the game Dave McGlade got his second of the
game. Anthony Best also got an assist on that goal. That's how the
game would end.....3-0 for the Kings.
The Kings, having just one three consecutive games felt as
though they were unstoppable, a feeling that didn't come around
too often in season play. Sunday morning that prepared to play Kap
again in what was to be seen as a great rematch. Once again
goaltender Karl Labelle worked his magic as he got his 2nd shutout
of the tournament and the Kings blanked Kap 3-0. Have you
noticed that the number 3 keep coming up... I guess it must have
been their lucky number. This game featured a single goal in each
period. With 2:23 left in the first period Manny Horvath
converted a Shawn McFadden pass into a goal to give the Kings the
lead. Then with 2:18 left in the 2nd period Todd Irven passed the
puck to Ryan Landon who scored the insurance goal. Then with 2:21
left in the game Manny Horvath squashed all hope of a comeback
for Kap as he netted the 3rd and final goal of the game. That how
the game would end. 3-0 Kings. Off to the finals!!!
The Kings were pumped for their first tournament final of the year and were willing to win at all costs. The Kings had plenty of confidence going into the final because they are playing Vaughan and they had previously beaten Vaughan in the Round Robin part of the tournament. The first period was fast, yet not much action until late in the period when Ryan Landon ( from James Kirkwood) scored at 2:22. The second period was a penalty box parade for the Kings. They were not intentionally taking penalties, the Kings just hit so much harder that any of the team up their that they were getting penalties for perfectly clean body checks. Then at 9:45 of the 2nd Brandon Preece gave the Kings a 2-0 lead which would only last for about 6 min. At 3:23 of the 2nd Vaughan scored to make the game within 1. But 2 quick goals in the third period by the Kings would put an end to any thoughts of a Vaughan comeback. At 5:57 Shawn McFadden ( from Manny Horvath and Ryan Landon) scored then at 5:25 Ryan Landon Unassisted scored. With these two goals the Kings came out on top with a 4-1 win and plenty of firsts.
Overall, everyone had fun in North Bay.