Welcome to Game 95 of the SMJHL season where we have the Colorado Raptors taking on the Kelowna Knights. These two sides haven’t faced each other yet this season and this will be their first encounter of 5 towards the second half of the season. Even thought they have watched the tapes on each other, today will be the first time seeing both sides face off on the ice. Coming into the game, the Colorado Raptors have a record of 5-11-2 and the Kelowna Knights are 10-7-1. Will Kelowna be able to bounce back after a shootout lose versus the Falcons in their previous game or can the struggling Colorado Raptors snap their three-game losing streak? Stay tuned for some SMJHL action.

Knute Knurtsson - Julio Tokolosh - Nick Brain  

Aleksandr Scherbak – Bobby Sharp – Liam Hutchinson  

We start the first period with the opening face-off between Knute Knurtsson vs Aleksandr Scherbak and it is won back by the Raptors centerman. The opening few minutes makes for a quiet start as both teams seem to be feeling each other out, as this is their first meeting of the season. A few missed stretch passes for both sides leads to multiple icings as both teams are trying to get in behind to open up the scoring. As we reach the 7-minute mark, a Mikelis Ozolins pass is intercepted by Bobby Sharp, who springs Liam Hutchinson into the offensive zone. As he leads the odd-man rush, he drops it back to Big Fudge who quickly passes it back to Hutchinson and he finds Bobby Sharp in the high slot. Sharp’s one-timer over Ushakov’s glove sees the Knights take the lead. Quickly after the restart, Anastasia O’Koivu is sent to the box for tripping. Yuri Ushakov makes three big saves on the penalty kill to keep the deficit to only one goal. As Kelowna continues to keep the pressure on Colorado, Juulius Smonk is sent to the box for high-sticking. The Raptors penalty kill comes up big again as the Knights are having a tough time getting into the offensive zone. As we come to the end of the first period, the Raptors get their third penalty of the period and its Emeka Valentine-Okoli who is sent off for roughing. The Knights can’t seem to figure out their power play as the Raptors continue to block shots in front off the net. The period ends with Kelowna having 12 shots on net to Colorado’s 1 shot.

Goal Recap:

Kelowna Knights , Bobby Sharp 5 (Liam Hutchinson 7, Big Fudge 12) at 7:10

The second period starts the same way as the first as Knute Knurtsson wins the face-off versus Aleksandr Scherbak. It looks like the referees owed the Raptors a call after having three consecutive penalties in the first period. It is Simon LeBlanc who is sent to the box for Kelowna for hooking. The intermission speech seems to have worked for the Raptors as they have 13 shot attempts on net in the first minute of the power play. During the man advantage, it is Nick Brain who gets a penalty for holding. As the first penalty to LeBlanc is expired, the Raptors see themselves down two men 20 seconds later as Akashi SixNine is sent to the box for slashing. The Knights continue their power play woes as they are unable to score on the 2-man advantage. As we progress to midway in the second period, an interference call on Piotr Horvat sends the Knights to the penalty kill. Even though their power play hasn’t been up to their standard today, they aren’t letting it affect their penalty kill. We pick up the game at the 15-minute mark, where the Raptors’ fourth line is in the Knights zone. Conrad Farell sends a pass to the point where Loki Odinsson throws a wrist shot into traffic which is deflected by Emeka Valentine-Okoli and finds its way to the back of the net. A tough save to make for Theo Haas who was screened and lost track of the puck. The Raptors have seemed to have found a second wind as they are looking to use their momentum to take the lead. Colorado once again finds themselves cycling the puck in the Knights zone. Nick Novak is looking for options and finds Jules Watt at the point who passes it to a streaking Ja’Aj Coitus-Wagg. Coitus-Wagg is able to wrist it over Haas’ glove and rattle the net. A late penalty to David Vent for boarding is killed by Colorado to remain up 2-1 to close out the second period.

Goal Recap:

Colorado Raptors , Emeka Valentine-Okoli 2 (Loki Odinsson 4, Conrad Farell 3) at 14:58

Colorado Raptors , Ja’Aj Coitus-Wagg 3 (Jules Watt 8, Nick Novak 1) at 16:55

Nick Brain wins the face-off versus Aleksandr Scherbak and the third period is underway. The story of this game is penalties and the Kelowna Knights take another one as Bobby Sharp is sent to the box for interference. As the Raptors put pressure, Theo Haas is able to come up back and make multiple saves to keep Kelowna in it. Both teams are ramping up the offensive scoring chances as Kelowna looks to tie up this game. But a delay of game penalty goes to Karlstrabe Scholz of Kelowna and they are back on the penalty kill. Jules Watt tries to extend the Raptors lead but all of his shots can’t seem to find the back of the net. As we pass the 10-minute mark of the final frame, Jay Steele is able to land a big body check on Nathan Explosion. Big Fudge picks up the puck and makes an outlet pass to Barry Batsbak who enters the Raptors zone. He finds Zach Laliberte and he is able to squeak it past Ushakov for this 6th goal of the season. The score is 2-2 with just over 7 minutes remaining. We have a penalty for both sides as David Vent is sent to the box for high sticking whereas Loki Odinsson goes off for tripping. As we enter the final minute of the game, it is the Colorado Raptors who are looking to put an end to it. After a flurry of missed shots, Knute Knurtsson decides to join the party and miss a shot himself. But a fortunate bounce off the boards goes right back to Knurtsson and he is able to slide it past the outstretched Theo Haas to win the game for the Raptors with just 2 seconds left on the clock! What an incredible way to end the game!

Goal Recap:

Kelowna Knights , Zach Laliberte 6 (Barry Batsbak 13, Big Fudge 13) at 12:51

Colorado Raptors , Knute Knurtsson 5 (Nick Brain 8, Akashi SixNine 6) at 19:58

Goalie Stats
Yuri Ushakov , 24 saves from 26 shots – (0.923), W, 5-9-1, 60:00 minutes
Theo Haas , 30 saves from 33 shots – (0.909), L, 0-1-1, 60:00 minutes

Three Stars
1 - Knute Knurtsson   (1 goal, 0 assists, 1 point, +1, 5 shots, FO: 14/20, TOI: 19:57)
2 – Jules Watt   (0 goals, 1 assist, 1 point, +2, 2 shots, 1 hit, 2 shots blocked, TOI: 22:20)
3 – Nick Brain   (0 goals, 1 assist, 1 point, +1, 5 shots, 5 hits, 2 shots blocked, TOI: 19:40)

Game Facts:

PP: 0/5 (0%) | PK: 5/5 (100%) | FOW: 40 | Hits: 9 | Blocked Shots: 15 | PIMs: 12

PP: 0/5 (0%) | PK: 5/5 (100%) | FOW: 35 | Hits: 17 | Blocked Shots: 13 | PIMs: 12