With a deep layer of snow surrounding Bill Collier Ice Arena, the Klamath Falls Ice Hawks watched another lead disappear in their second game of the Collier Cup, losing 3-2 to the Vancouver Jr. Rangers.
Luke Balzotti put Klamath Falls ahead 6:10 into the first period, 24 seconds after Vancouver successfully killed a penalty. Two minutes later, overlapping penalties gave the Ice Hawks a 5-on-3 for 1:28, but they were unable to capitalize.
The Jr. Rangers got their first power play at 18:12 and Theodore Costello-Krakowski scored 45 seconds later, sending the teams to intermission tied at 1.
The Vancouver power play unit was called on again after Klamath Falls took another penalty 33 seconds into the second period. This time, the Ice Hawks held out. Overlapping penalties midway through the frame turned another Jr. Rangers power play into a 4-on-4 and then a brief Klamath Falls power play, but the teams remained deadlocked until Zach Sims gave Vancouver their first lead of the game at 18:21.
Trailing 2-1 entering the third period, the Ice Hawks took two penalties in the first eight minutes and were made to pay for the second one, with Sims scoring again at 9:09 to increase the Jr. Rangers’ lead to 3-1. Gage McDaniel, who had a hat trick in Klamath Falls’ 7-4 loss to the Rogue Valley Reign Friday night, provided a quick answer at 11:15, but the Ice Hawks never found the tying goal despite creating several scoring chances in the closing minutes.
In addition to his two goals, Sims recorded an assist on Costello-Krakowski’s tally, giving him a game-high three points.
Klamath Falls outshot Vancouver 28-19, including 13-3 in the first period. Ice Hawks goalie Tatiana Graham made 16 saves, and Jr. Rangers goalie Nicholas Saldanha made 26 saves–including two in the final 15 seconds.
The Ice Hawks are scheduled to play two games on the third day of the Collier Cup Sunday. They’ll face the Eugene Jr. Generals at 6:45 a.m. and the Capital Thunder at 11:15 a.m.
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Scoring Summary
1st Period
6:10 KF Luke Balzotti (Thatcher Rabbiosi)
18:57 VAN (PP) Theodore Costello-Krakowski (Zach Sims, Oliver Johnson)
2nd Period
18:21 VAN Zach Sims (Oliver Johnson)
3rd Period
9:09 VAN (PP) Zach Sims (Landen Wells)
11:15 KF Gage McDaniel (Owen Welch)