Kings 7 Clippers 1
The RDC Kings stayed red hot Friday with their sixth-straight win in Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference play.
RDC scored early and often in a 7-1 rout over the Briercrest College Clippers at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.
The home side got rolling with three goals in the opening 10 minutes and didn’t look back from there. That was key in the win, considering Clippers goalie Dan Dekoning was brilliant a year ago when the two teams squared off.
“Last weekend we seemed to take a little bit of time to get so we talked about initiating everything (Friday).
“We know that they have a very good goaltender, last year I think we had 159 shots in two games against them and one of the games went to overtime,” Kings head coach Trevor Keeper said.
“One of the things we talked about was scoring early and putting pressure on them, getting them a bit frustrated and tired. The guys did that and took the puck to the net, but we didn’t throw pucks away. We hung onto it and made plays. Lots of good speed and creating 2-on-1’s.”
Dekoning wasn’t as unbeatable on this night, allowing seven goals on 46 shots in the loss.
Tyrell Mappin, Dylan Thudium, Jacob Wozney and Kyle Salaway had goals for RDC in the first. Thudium and Lynnden Pastachak added second-period markers, before Regan Doig rounded out the scoring 13 seconds into the third.
Pastachak and Salaway also had two assists in the win, while Arik Weersink just missed out on the shutout, turning aside 17 of 18 shots.
Thudium, the only Kings fifth-year forward has missed practice time this year and after recording seven assists in his first 10 games, scored his first two goals of the year Friday. He was player of the game for his efforts.
“As our only fifth-year player, we really appreciate his leadership. He’s a very smart player, he’s got great hockey sense,” Keeper said.
“He only gets to practice twice out of four times every week… so he has to work hard in the gym and sometimes that affects you a little bit with your hands and your rhythm.
“He’s battled through that and he’s such a smart player he can make up for it.”
RDC will host the Clippers Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.
Email sports tips to Byron Hackett
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