Kings Doing MJHL Proud By Remaining Undefeated

May 3, 2010

The win pushes the Kings’ record to 2-0 in the RBC Cup tournament, while the Braves fall back to a 1-1 record, joining LaRonge IceWolves and Vernon Vipers. Oakville is still winless at 0-2.

Kings were led by veteran Shane Luke who scored a pair for the winners.

“It was a good time to score two goals,” Luke said with a laugh. “I wasn’t doing anything different…just playing my game. (Zeanan) Ziemer was giving me great passes and I just had to get into the open.

“Brockville has a very quick team. We knew they’d come at us with speed. But we got some good saves in the third.”

Luke admitted the Kings must keep their emotions in check with their 2-0 record.

“We’re all pretty excited, but we’re trying to keep an even keel, too,” he said. “We’re excited to be 2-0, but we also have to think about the next two games we have.”

Brockville had a similar look to that of Vernon Vipers, who lost 6-5 in OT to the Kings on Saturday. Both clubs have exceptional speed and skill level.

“Brockville has a very skilled club. They work very hard,” Kings’ GM/Head Coach Marlin Murray told CKDM-Dauphin.

“The first period for us was just okay. I thought we dominated the second period at times. In the third period we emphasized not to lay back, but we did a couple of times. But hey, we got it done.

“Everything is emphasized not to lay back,” said Murray. “We talked about having a good forecheck…but when you have a two-goal lead, it’s hard not to lay back.”

Like two cagey prize fighters, both clubs were content to gauge each other both offensively and defensively, reflected in a 1-1 deadlock after 20 minutes. Luke opened the scoring for the Kings in the first period to the delight of more than 2,000 ecstatic fans at Credit Union Place.

Kings opened up offensively in the second period and held a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes with goals coming from Luke and Mitch Czibere, who scored the eventual game-winner.

The Braves pulled within one, scoring their second just 40 seconds into the third; but the Kings’ held the lead thanks in large part to netminder Joe Caligiuri, who showed why he was the best ‘tender this season in the MJHL.

Caligiuri says despite a busy (hectic?!) third period, it was a save in the second period which sticks out his mind.

“The score was tied 1-1 and they had a breakaway,” said Caligiuri. “I made a save and we came back a while later and scored to go ahead. I knew they would come out flying in the third and they did, scoring the goal early in the period.

“But no one panicked, we just ended up playing our game, making it tough to play in our zone. It was a big win for us.”

Murray echoed his goaltender’s sentiments.

“Joe makes the saves when he has to,” Murray said of Caligiuri. “He was tested in the third. But he made the saves he had to. Our goaltending has been great from both guys (Brett Willows).”