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It’s a draw in the battle of the Kings

In the first two home games of the season, the Big Valley Oil Kings won one and lost one against the Lloydminster Border Kings.
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Big Valley Oil Kings’ Luke Boyer scrambles to take control of the puck after a rebound off the Lloydminster Border Kings’ netminder’s stick. The Sunday game resulted in a win for the Oil Kings

In the first two home games of the season, the Big Valley Oil Kings won one and lost one against the Lloydminster Border Kings.

The Battle of the Kings began on Saturday and went to the Border Kings, who won 3-2 in a shoot-out.

The Border Kings kept the Oil Kings scoreless through the first and second periods, scoring once in each. However, the third belonged to the Oil Kings, who were hungry for a hometown win. Taking advantage both times of a powerplay, Chance Abbott and Rob Turville scored, tying up the game.

The game went into an overtime period, which also remained scoreless, resulting in a best-of-three shoot-out. Abbott and Matt Kinnunen had their shots on the Border Kings netminder, but their lack of success allowed the two goals against Chance Clark to stand, and the Border Kings won the first Battle of the Kings.

The teams faced off again the next day, with the Oil Kings seeking redress for the previous loss – and finding it in a 3-2 win.

Jeff Clazie, Rob Turville and Luke Boyer started out the scoring for the Oil Kings in the first period, grabbing the team’s three goals within the first 10 minutes of the game.

A single score by the Oil Kings right before the buzzer saw the teams go into the second 3-1, and it remained that way until the last minute of the second, where the Border Kings narrowed the gap on a power play.

However, the Oil Kings, determined to win for the excited home crowd, continued to block the Border Kings during the final period, keeping them scoreless for the win.

The Sunday win bumps the Oil Kings ahead of the Border Kings in the Battle River Hockey League standings, with the team now only second to the Bonnyville Sr. Pontiacs in points. After the Oil Kings are the Border Kings, with the Daysland Northstars and Tofield Satellites taking fourth and fifth respectively.

The Oil Kings next play the Satellites in Tofield on Saturday, Dec. 20, but return home in January to a home-heavy rotation. The team will see home play on Jan. 3, 4, 9, 16 and 31. Check www.brhl.ca for game times.