Robin Sapousek gave it a try when asked if there’s a Czech equivalent to the North American sporting term “Cardiac Kids.”
Sapousek, silver medallist with Czechia at the 2023 world junior championship, scored the tying goal with 41 seconds remaining in regulation time and then the winner in overtime as the Victoria Royals recorded a dramatic 4-3 Western Hockey League victory over the Spokane Chiefs on Saturday before 2,753 fans at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
It followed Friday night’s even greater rally in the final part of the third period to eliminate a 4-1 Spokane lead in a 5-4 overtime victory as the Royals (6-5) have won four consecutive games and six of their last seven games after opening the season with four consecutive losses.
“We don’t want to give up,” said Sapousek, who has eight goals on the season.
“The game was up and down but we finished it. We stayed calm and just played our game.”
Royals defenceman Nate Misskey showed why he was a free-agent invite to the Edmonton Oilers’ NHL rookie camp last month with a goal and assist Saturday to follow up his overtime winner on Friday night, an experience in which he said he basically “blacked out.” He played another key role Saturday.
“There’s no quit out there. We push back,” said Misskey, who entered the game as the fourth-leading points getter among WHL defencemen.
The Royals had to survive a Spokane power play in the overtime Saturday.
“I said we’re going to have to eat a lot of pucks here, guys,” said Royals head coach Dan Price.
That they did and had enough left over for a Tanner Scott rush down the left side and feed to Sapousek, who scored with 29 seconds remaining in overtime.
Sapousek’s last-gasp game tying goal came in the third period with Victoria on a two-man advantage with a Spokane penalty combined with goaltender Jayden Kraus pulled for an extra attacker.
“Resilience is becoming a part of our identity and that’s a real sign of maturity,” said Price.
Ben Riche scored the other Victoria goal. Berkly Catton, ranked between fourth and sixth overall for the 2024 NHL draft depending on source, had two assists for the Chiefs (4-3-2).
The game concluded a five-game homestand for the Royals, who are in Kelowna on Wednesday night to play the Rockets.
