Day Three RBC Results

Press Release

VICTORIA, B.C. – Let’s call it a tale of two games.

For the first 30 minutes, Monday’s 2009 RBC Cup matinee between the Kingston Voyageurs and Summerside Western Capitals was a defensive battle, even at 1-1.

But the last 30 turned into an offensive showcase, culminating in a 7-5 win for the Voyageurs, their first at this year’s National Junior A Championship. The two teams combined for nine third-period goals, including six in the last 10 minutes.

Mike Farrell finished with a hat trick to lead the Voyageurs’ offence, including two goals that came just 23 and 20 seconds after Summerside markers, crushing any momentum the East Region champions hoped to have. Jarrett Burton, Ben Power, Dustin Walsh and Anthony Geldart also scored for Kingston – Geldart’s goal was his first in 79 games this season, including regular season and playoffs.

Josh McKinnon, Brett Gallant, Mike MacIsaac, Daniel Whelan and Nathan Snowie scored goals for Summerside, which got to within two goals three times in the last eight minutes, but could not do anymore damage.

The Capitals outshot Kingston 50-28, including 19-6 in the first period, when it had five power plays. Voyageurs netminder Shawn Sirman was the difference for much of the game for the Central Region champions, turning aside 45 shots overall.

Both teams will not play again until Wednesday – Kingston faces Humboldt in the matinee (2 p.m. PT), while Summerside will take on the host Victoria Grizzlies in the night game (7 p.m. PT).

Press Release

VICTORIA, B.C. – Fans of the Vernon Vipers call it the Drive for Five, and the team’s quest for a fifth National Junior A Championship is alive and well at the 2009 RBC Cup.

Rob Short scored once and set up two others and the Vipers opened up a 4-0 second-period lead en route to a convincing 7-1 win over the Humboldt Broncos – last year’s RBC Cup champions – on Monday night at Bear Mountain Arena, taking over first place with a perfect 2-0 record.

The Vipers notched a pair of quick goals late in the first period – Short’s shorthanded marker was followed 2:10 later by a Ryan Santana goal – and goals from Cole Ikkala, Mike Collins and Kellen Jones chased Humboldt starter Mathieu LaRochelle with three goals in less than six minutes in the second to open up a four-goal lead.

Chris Crowell and Sahir Gill also scored goals for Vernon, who are looking to become the all-time winningest team in National Junior A Championship history. They currently sit tied with the Prince Albert Raiders with four national titles.

Joel Belair had the lone goal for Humboldt, which suffered its first loss. The Broncos are looking to make a little history of their own – no team since Vernon in 1990 and 1991 has repeated as national champions.

Vernon is right back on the ice on Tuesday night, facing their BCHL rivals from Victoria in the day’s lone game (7 p.m. PT), while the Broncos see action next on Wednesday, when they face Kingston (2 p.m. PT).


(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)