Music: {allcanada} WHL: ROYALS DEFEAT HITMEN; COUGARS BLANK ROCKETS

Friday, October 19, 2012

{allcanada} WHL: ROYALS DEFEAT HITMEN; COUGARS BLANK ROCKETS

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VICTORIA -- Russian rookie Alex Gogolev scored twice against his old team as the Victoria Royals beat the Calgary Hitmen 3-1 in Western Hockey League action Thursday night.

Steven Hodges also scored for the Royals (8-4-0) while former Royals forward Zane Jones answered for Calgary (7-2-2) in the loss.

Jones opened the scoring for Calgary 12 minutes into the second period after a giveaway at the Royals blue-line. Jones got in alone and snapped the puck low between the legs of Victoria goalie Patrik Polivka.

The Royals evened the game late in the period just as their power play had expired. Hodges tipped Logan Nelson's high point shot down past Calgary goalie Chris Driedger.

The Royals then went up 2-1 with only 40 seconds left in the second when Brandon Magee made a spin move behind the Calgary net and fed Gogolev for a goalmouth tap-in.

The third period featured a number of big saves from Polivka and a scare when Hodges, just back from injury, crashed hard into the end boards. Hodges stayed on the bench and appeared to be okay.

Gogolev got his second of the game for the Royals into an empty net with only 20 seconds remaining.

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KELOWNA, B.C. -- Jordon Cooke made 32 saves for Kelowna as the Rockets held on for a 3-0 win over the Prince George Cougars in WHL action Thursday night.

Myles Bell scored twice and Colton Sissons, with a penalty-shot goal that opened the scoring midway through the first period, also scored for Kelowna (5-5-1).

Prince George (5-5-1) suffered its fourth consecutive loss, including its second straight by shutout.

Mac Engel made 24 stops for the Cougars, who are now 1-2 against the Rockets this season. The two teams are tied for third place in B.C. Division standings with 11 points each.