Ty Ronning got his revenge.
Red Deer Rebels defenceman Austin Strand nailed Ronning, the second-year Vancouver Giants winger, with a questionable knee-on-knee check at the Red Deer blueline with just shy of three minutes to go in Friday’s tilt at the Pacific Coliseum.
After getting checked on by trainer Nick Murray, Ronning went to the bench. He scored the game winner on the ensuing five-minute power play, redirecting a Tyler Benson feed from the left side at 19:02 of the third period to send Vancouver off on a 5-4 triumph.
It was the first goal of the season for Ronning, who was playing just his 10th game. Ronning suffered a collar bone injury in the preseason and only returned to the Vancouver line-up on Jan. 9.
It was the first win in five games and second in 11 for the Giants (21-28-1-2), who moved to within one point of the Kamloops Blazers (20-28-3-3) for third spot in the B.C. Division. Kamloops lost 5-3 to the Kelowna Rockets on Friday.
“I saw Benny with a burst of speed, with Foz (Thomas Foster), and we were looking at video this morning of a shot-tip-pass and I thought that right away,” said Ronning, who went with an elaborate, exaggerated right-arm windmill for his goal celebration.
“I was lucky enough to get a stick on it.”
And Ronning explained the Strand hit this way: “I looked up and thought, ‘Ah, he’s coming. I’d better move.’ He clipped me there. Dirty? I’d say so. But it’s also hockey, You just try to get back in there and get a goal, and I did.”
It was a game that Vancouver could have easily given up. They weren’t very good defensively. They were sloppy in their own zone. And goaltender Cody Porter has had better nights.
Vancouver still managed to rally from 2-0, 3-1 and 4-3 deficits against Red Deer (28-16-3-5).
Coach Claude Noel explained: “We talked about earning the win and playing the right way, and I thought we did that collectively as a group and we hadn’t seen that in awhile.”
As for Ronning and his goal, Noel said: “It does a lot for him. He’s probably been pretty frustrated. He’s been able to create plays with that threesome, with Benson and (Carter) Popoff. He takes a hit and comes back in and gets a good goal, It was a great play and one that will bring more relief than you can imagine.”
Ronning added: “Confidence wise, I think I am focusing on winning. I want to win. One day I want to win a Memorial Cup. I was in a slump, for sure. I’m not worrying about points, though. I’m about the team. Team first mentality, for sure.”
Alec Baer and Zane Jones both had a goal and an assist for the Giants. Jackson Houck and Clayton Kirichenko had the other goals for Vancouver. Porter finished with 27 saves.
Wyatt Johnson had a goal and an assist for Red Deer.
Vancouver is at Seattle on Saturday.
