Morgan Paine strides past a defender. Photo by Graeden Wurster.
By: Riley Gillespie-Wilson
A 5-1 loss in Woodstock on Friday night at the hands of the Navy Vets was certainly one Brett Hope’s Komoka Kings would like to put behind them quickly. They did exactly that.
The defeat was the second consecutive ‘L’ for the Kings, who spilt their home contests last weekend.
The Response
It was a tough task at hand for the Kings on Saturday night when the 5-0 St. Thomas Stars rolled into the Wellness Centre.
The game began as a bit of a feeling out process, with the teams trading zone time and both goaltenders playing well. Star netminder Charlie Weiss was busier than Owen Bienstman in the Komoka cage.
It was scoreless after one period with Komoka holding a 13-6 shot-on-goal advantage.
Sensational Second
The second frame was when the Kings found their game and were rewarded in a big way. They managed to put three past Weiss and surrender a lone tally.
First, it was Evan Miller who made a nice play in neutral ice to set up an odd-man-rush. Miller made no mistake, wiring one home to make it a 1-0 game.
A nice second effort from Atley Rogers promptly made it 2-0 for Komoka at the 5:30 mark of period two. A power play marker, Rogers’ goal was his second of the campaign.
After Cole Edmundson responded to get the visitors on the board, it was Ryan Power with his fifth of the year on a rebound. It was 3-1 Kings after forty minutes and they held a 28-13 advantage on the shot clock to boot.
Stars Fire Back to Start Final Frame
The Stars wouldn’t go away quietly in this one. They scored twice including a shorthanded-goal from Graham Littlejohn to tie the game.
The unassisted bulge from Littlejohn off a turnover in neutral ice had the game all square at the 13:59 mark.
Moments later, Morgan Paine took over the game.
Player of the Game Secured in Dramatic Fashion
It was no shock after what transpired that POTG was Morgan Paine.
Paine, already with four goals on the season, had loftier goals in mind. With his team looking to respond to a now 3-3 tie game, Paine took a dump-in, chased it down, and the rest was history. The wraparound tally beat Weiss clean and gave the Kings a lead with just 4:04 on the clock.
Paine was able to grab the empty-netter as well in a 5-3 final for Komoka. His efforts were a part of an overall offensive outburst for a group with just three on the scoreboard in their past two efforts.
It was the third Komoka win of the young season, and their second on home ice.
Up Next
The Kings hit the road for a game in LaSalle Wednesday night. They will then travel to St. Catherines Friday, before returning to the Wellness Centre Sunday, October 4th, hosting the St. Marys Lincolns at 4:45 p.m.
