The Kings are officially done for the season after back-to-back losses against the Ice Demons in the CIHL west division quarter finals.
“As a coach, it's hard not to respect the players for their level of effort in our final games,” said Roger Tooms, head coach for the River Kings. “Our guys fought hard and did not make it easy for Kitimat.”
Game one in the series had the Kings throw their most aggressive game of the season to date at the Demons. They took the lead just 39 seconds into the first when Garret Kerr deflected a shot into the net.
The promising start held for only 10 minutes before the Demons managed to tie it up.
The Kings were unable to re-take the lead, and though a last minute goal with one minute remaining in the third presented an opportunity to tie the game, it was quickly lost when Kitimat intercepted a pass and roofed themselves an insurance goal for the 5-3 win.
Game two was more of the same as a hard fought opening period ended 0-0, with Terrace looking like the more aggressive team.
Kitimat took the first lead just three minutes into the second. Terrace tied it up four minutes later when Josh Murray one-timed a David Tooms pass, bringing the score to 1-1.
The Kings briefly took the lead three minutes later, on a goal by Taylor Mallet, although it was short lived as Kitimat tied it up again, 30 seconds later.
The third was a hard-hitting affair with both teams shortening the benches to three lines.
It was a late goal with 57 seconds left on the clock by Kitimat’s Ian Coleman which stopped the game from going into overtime, and saved the Demons from their first potential home-ice loss of the season.
“Obviously, as an organization we would have preferred to advance, and I'm sure most are disappointed. We are a community team,” said Tooms. “You want to win for the fans and everyone who supported us.”
With files from Allan Hewitson