RDP Kings and Augustana Vikings split weekend series as Kings rest some players

Brent Forster - Red Deer Polytechnic Athletics

Red Deer, AB – In another close game between the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings and University of Alberta Augustana Vikings, only one goal separated the squads.

Even though the result didn't affect the standings, the Vikings used the momentum from a three goal second period to down the Kings 4-3.

"We were trying to set the table for how we play in the playoffs," said Trevor Keeper, Red Deer Polytechnic Kings Hockey Head Coach. "We had three key defencemen not playing and Arik Weersink resting."

Defenders Tyler Podgorenko, Layne Toder and Konrad Belcourt were out of the lineup Saturday evening. 

"It can be difficult, when it really doesn't matter if you win or lose in terms of standings, you get these lapses," explained Keeper. "We got up 1-0 and then all of a sudden it was 2-1 and then 3-1 for them and we clawed back, but we made some mental mistakes." 

After a scoreless opening 20 minutes, Hayden Clayton put the Kings up 1-0 at 8:44 of the middle frame. The six-foot-three forward received a nice pass from the defensive zone that sent him in alone on Vikings netminder Daniel Moody. Clayton froze Moody and then tucked the puck around the goaltender's outstretched pads for his fifth goal and seventh point of the season. 

Then the Vikings started to click offensively, rattling off three consecutive markers within a four minute span to jump ahead 3-1. Jarod Hovde, Jake Gudjonson and Zack Cox were able to beat Kings netminder Kristian Lyon. 

Very quickly into the final stanza, Tucker Scantlebury picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone and beat Moody with a nice wrist shot to pull the Kings within one. It was Scantlebury's 10th goal and 18th point of the season. 

On the power play, Jarod Hovde picked up his second goal of the evening, restoring the visitors' two goal cushion. 

Then with just over three minutes remaining in the contest, Mathieu Lapointe's backhander brought the Kings to 4-3. Chance Longjohn and Ryley Smith had the helpers.

Longjohn (11)

The Kings pressed but couldn't score the equalizer. 

"Even at the end, we pulled the goaltender - it's good practice to be in those situations," said Keeper. 

Clayton was recognized as the North Star Sports Kings Player of the Game. 

Kendall (23)

Camrose's Jacob Kendall finished the season with nine goals and 21 points, making the first-year Bachelor of Education Elementary student the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) scoring leader.

Vikings Player of the Game Jarod Hovde recorded a pair of goals and an assist. 

Lyon turned aside 33-of-37 shots.

"Kristian Lyon came in, back-to-back, and played really well," added Keeper. 

The Kings went zero-for-four on the power play. The Vikings connected once on three attempts. 

"Our penalty kill crew was outstanding again," said Keeper. "All the things we've been good at, we've tried to maintain." 

On Friday, March 4, the third place Red Deer Polytechnic Kings (9-4-2-1) will host the sixth seed Briercrest College Clippers (3-12-1-0) in game one of the best-of-three quarter-final series. 

"The guys know we have four, short hard practices next week and we are getting prepared for playoffs. That's what really matters," added Keeper. "They did the right things this weekend - yesterday winning in overtime. They did those things to keep our habits where they need to be heading into playoffs."

Graduating student-athletes

Tyler Podgorenko, Chance Longjohn, Jantzen Leslie, Ryley Smith, Kyle Salaway, Mathieu Lapointe