Sunday, May 2, 2010

BACKHOUSE IS OT HERO AS KINGS TOP DEFENDING CHAMPS

Press Release

DAUPHIN, Man. – As if an MJHL championship and an ANAVET Cup title weren’t enough to prove the Dauphin Kings aren’t the average RBC Cup host team, a win over the defending champions just might do the trick.

Mathew Backhouse found the back of the net 42 seconds into overtime, lifting the Kings to a 6-5 overtime victory over the Vernon Vipers on Saturday night in the opener for both at the National Junior A Championship.

Backhouse’s shot from the point got past a screened Graeme Gordon, igniting the capacity crowd of 2,135 at the Parkland Recreation Complex and ending the Vipers’ RBC Cup winning streak at nine, which included last year’s unbeaten run to the franchise’s record fifth national title.

The game was a showcase of two of the pre-tournament favourites and two of the nation’s top offences, and it did not disappoint.

Twice in the opening 40 minutes the Vipers opened up two-goal leads, at 2-0 and 4-2, but could not hold off the hard-charging Kings, who scored twice in the first five minutes of the third period to pull even at 4-4 at set up an exciting finish.

David Robinson restored Vernon’s lead at 12:36 but Zeanan Ziemer replied just 1:44 later, blasting a shot to the far side past Gordon and eventually forcing overtime, where Backhouse made sure it ended early.

Kellen Jones, playing without twin brother Connor, who did not dress, scored twice to pace the Vernon offence, while Braden Pimm and Mike Collins also scored. Cody Esposito’s two goals led the way for Dauphin, which also got goals from Colton Graf and Troy Hunter.

The Vipers are right back to action Sunday night, taking on La Ronge in the evening game (7 p.m. CT), while the Kings will enjoy an off day to end the weekend before hitting the ice in Monday’s lone game against Brockville (7 p.m. CT).


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

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