WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI- The Wisconsin Rapids RiverKings were tied 1-1 in the best of three series with the St. Croix Valley Magicians heading into the game Sunday afternoon. The RiverKings were awarded two power plays in the first period going 0-2. In the second period a player from St. Croix covered the puck in the goal crease, which resulted in a penalty shot for the RiverKings. RiverKings Center, and Cody, WY native, Reed Kaiser was given the nod to take the shot. Kaiser stole the magic from Magicians goaltender Tim Grounds and put the RiverKings on the board, with a 1-0 lead. The RiverKings scored another goal just over a minute later to go ahead 2-0. The Magicians responded near the midpoint in the game, to close the gap to one goal. The RiverKings got close to scoring a third, but it was called off by the referee, due to an alleged hand pass. The RiverKings scored another goal late in the second to put them ahead by two points, leaving the score 3-1 after two periods.
The third period was eventful in and of itself. Just past the midpoint in the period the RiverKings’ veteran, Tyler Harkins scored a power play goal to push the lead to three. points With three and a half minutes left in the third period the Magicians pulled their goalie, to put them at 6 players on the ice. The RiverKings held them off, and with 21 seconds left in the game Harkins scored his second goal of the game and put the RiverKIngs ahead 5-1. As the team was skating back to the box a Magicians’ player attacked Harkins, which lead to a series of fights on the ice, totaling 42 penalty minutes for the RIverKings, and 42 penalty minutes for the Magicians. The last 21 seconds of the game were hard fought by both teams, and left the RiverKings victorious.
The RiverKings will be traveling Forest Lake, MN to face off against the 1st place Forest Lake Lakers. All games will be held at the Forest Lake Sports Center, located at 5530 206th St. N, Forest Lake, MN 55025. Game one will be on Thursday, 3/3/16 at 7:00pm CST, game two will be played 3/4/16 at 7:00pm CST, and game three, if necessary, will be held on 3/5/16 at 5:00pm CST.
