The Victoria Royals dropped a pair on the weekend, 11-3 in Vancouver Friday, and then 8-3 versus the defending WHL champs, the Kootenay Ice in front of 6,482 fans on home ice Saturday.
The Ice playing without their leading goal scorer Max Reinhart, (sitting out for violating team rules), and starting their back up netminder Mackenzie Skapki, appeared to be the tonic for a Royals club looking to bounce back. It was not the case as Kootenay struck just 53 seconds into the opening period.
Leading the attack was Elgin Pearce who complimented his hat trick with an assist and was named the #1 star. Jesse Ismond struck twice and added 3 helpers for 5 points and 2nd star honours, while Drew Czerwonka rounded out the stars with a goal and 2 assists.
The Ice held leads of 3-0 after 20 min and 8-0 until the 17:09 mark of the 2nd, before Logan Nelson (1 goal 1 assist) broke back up Mackenzie Skapski’s shutout bid. The Royals added singles by Brandon Magee and Kevin Sundher in the 3rd.
Victoria was out shot 41-28 on the evening, allowed a short handed marker, but killed off all 5 Kootenay power plays. For the 2nd night in a row Keith Hamilton was replaced by Jared Rathjen between the pipes, but on this night he came back to start the 3rd – stopping a total 31 of 37 shots.
Austin Carroll was awarded a penalty shot with 6.6 seconds left in the 3rd but was unable to score. There was one fight as Tim Traber handled Jonathan Martin in the 2nd.
Captain Hayden Rintoul was held off the score-sheet versus his former club, while Dylen McKinlay the forward he was traded for chipped in with a pair of assists.
Up next a 5 day break before heading to the interior for a pair of games against BC Division opponents…the 2nd place Blazers in Kamloops on Friday and then face the 4th place Rockets in Kelowna on Saturday a team who they’ve beaten 3 times this season.
Catch all the action on the Zone at 91.3. (www.thezone.fm)
The Ice playing without their leading goal scorer Max Reinhart, (sitting out for violating team rules), and starting their back up netminder Mackenzie Skapki, appeared to be the tonic for a Royals club looking to bounce back. It was not the case as Kootenay struck just 53 seconds into the opening period.
Leading the attack was Elgin Pearce who complimented his hat trick with an assist and was named the #1 star. Jesse Ismond struck twice and added 3 helpers for 5 points and 2nd star honours, while Drew Czerwonka rounded out the stars with a goal and 2 assists.
The Ice held leads of 3-0 after 20 min and 8-0 until the 17:09 mark of the 2nd, before Logan Nelson (1 goal 1 assist) broke back up Mackenzie Skapski’s shutout bid. The Royals added singles by Brandon Magee and Kevin Sundher in the 3rd.
Victoria was out shot 41-28 on the evening, allowed a short handed marker, but killed off all 5 Kootenay power plays. For the 2nd night in a row Keith Hamilton was replaced by Jared Rathjen between the pipes, but on this night he came back to start the 3rd – stopping a total 31 of 37 shots.
Austin Carroll was awarded a penalty shot with 6.6 seconds left in the 3rd but was unable to score. There was one fight as Tim Traber handled Jonathan Martin in the 2nd.
Captain Hayden Rintoul was held off the score-sheet versus his former club, while Dylen McKinlay the forward he was traded for chipped in with a pair of assists.
Up next a 5 day break before heading to the interior for a pair of games against BC Division opponents…the 2nd place Blazers in Kamloops on Friday and then face the 4th place Rockets in Kelowna on Saturday a team who they’ve beaten 3 times this season.
Catch all the action on the Zone at 91.3. (www.thezone.fm)
