BURSTThe Terrace River Kings opened their playoff run with a 5-2 win over the Hazelton Wolverines before a sold-out crowd at the Terrace Sportsplex on Feb. 28, taking a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.
Terrace, which finished first overall in the league standings ahead of Quesnel, Hazelton and Williams Lake, set the pace early and responded quickly whenever the Wolverines challenged.
Trevor Ebeling put Terrace on the board at 5:28 of the first period, finishing a play set up by Chapen Leblond and Marcus Mitchell. Less than two minutes later, Colin Bell doubled the lead, converting a feed from Jordan Peddle to make it 2-0.
Hazelton answered on the power play midway through the opening frame. Jonah Bevington scored with the man advantage, assisted by Joel Patsey and Daniel Kernaghan, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
Physical play escalated late in the period, with matching roughing minors assessed 12 minutes in, but Terrace carried its one-goal edge into the intermission.
Hazelton generated an early opportunity in the second period when Cameron Danylchuk was assessed a holding penalty just over a minute into play, but Terrace killed it off to keep its lead intact.
The Wolverines tied the game at 3:24 when Layne Sniher scored at even strength, assisted by Sean Maktaak and Rajin Khera, making it 2-2.
Terrace responded at 14:11 as Carter Shannon finished a play set up by Corbin Legros to restore a 3-2 lead.
Tensions flared late in the middle frame with a series of roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties at 18:12, resulting in four players being sent off and brief four-on-four play. Neither side converted during the ensuing open ice.
Terrace dominated the third period as Bell struck again eight minutes in, scoring unassisted to give Terrace breathing room at 4-2. Hazelton’s discipline faltered late, as Bevington took back-to-back penalties for slashing and unsportsmanlike conduct with five minutes left in play, creating a two-man disadvantage.
Ebeling sealed the win for Terrace three minutes later, scoring on the power play into an empty net for his second of the night and a 5-2 final.
Game 2 is set for March 7 in Hazelton.