The Kelowna Rockets (38-10-3-1, 80 pts) won their 22nd consecutive home game with a 6-1 victory over the visiting Victoria Royals (27-18-1-3, 58pts) Thursday.
The Rockets power play struck twice, Jordon Cooke made 27 saves for his league leading 28th win, while Tyson Baillie scored a pair. Kelowna had two point efforts from six different players.
The Rockets led 3-0 after the first and 6-1 after the second. There was no scoring in the third.
Kelowna now leads the season series (4-1). They’ll meet next for a pair Feb. 22nd and 23rd in Victoria.
Jamie Crooks scored the lone goal for the Royals who saw their 8 game unbeaten in regulation streak come to and end.
Patrik Polivka stops Colton Sissons
Patrik Polivka was valiant with 28 stops, but unable to extend his franchise record of 7 consecutive wins between the pipes.
Ranked 4th in the CHL, Kelowna moves to within 5 points of the 1st place Portland Winterhawks. The Royals remain 3 back of the 5th place Americans while holding 2 games in hand.
Patrik Polivka 28 saves
The Rockets scored 3 times in the first, as Tyson Baillie opened the scoring, followed by Zach Franko’s power play marker, and an individual effort by Tyrell Goulbourne. Keegan Kanzig got the better of Carter Rigby in the only tilt of the game.
In the 2nd, the Rockets would go up by 4, as Jesse Lees point shot made it through. Jamie Crooks would one time his 23rd of the year past Cooke to get the Royals on board. Colton Sissons on a delayed penalty fired in his 18th of the year to regain the 4 goal lead. Baillie scored his 2nd of the night to take a 6-1 lead to third, where there was no scoring.
Victoria’s stretch of 9 straight games with a power play goal was halted, as did the point streaks of Alex Gogolev (9 games), Brandon Magee (9 games), Steven Hodges (8 games) and Brett Cote (5 games).
The Royals are on a 3 game and 3 night road trip, facing the Cougars in Prince George Friday and Saturday.
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Game action in Kelowna Thursday
Victoria Royals 1 at Kelowna Rockets 6 - Status: Final
Thursday, January 31, 2013 - Prospera Place - Kelowna, BC
It’s a battle of the two hottest teams in the West as the Victoria Royals (27-17-1-3, 58pts) visit the Kelowna Rockets (37-10-3-1, 78 pts) Thursday night.
Pregame show on The Zone @ 91.3 FM at 6:40 or online at www.thezone.fm/whl
The Royals are unbeaten in regulation over their last 8 (7-0-0-1), while the Rockets are unbeaten in 16 (14-0-2-0).
Ranked 4th in the CHL, Kelowna is riding a team record 21 consecutive home win streak, one off of a third-place tie all-time with the Medicine Hat Tigers (22). Only the 1993-94 Kamloops Blazers (29) and 1992-93 Tacoma Rockets (24) have had more productive stretches in their own buildings.
Both clubs are coming off of extra inning losses, the Royals a 6-5 shoot out loss Tuesday against Prince Albert, the Rockets a 6-5 overtime loss at the Blazers.
It’s their 5th meeting of the season, with Victoria winning once, 3-2 Oct 13th on home ice. Most Recently Kelowna won 6-1 on January 9th, and 4-2 January 2nd, both on home ice.
Victoria begins 3 in 3 nights on the road part of 4 in 5. They’ll play a pair of games in Prince George Friday and Saturday. The Royals are riding a 3 game road win streak (Seattle, Vancouver, Kamloops).
Kelowna is 2nd in the Conference with 78 points in 37 games, Victoria is 6th in the Conference with 58 points in 28 games.
The Rockets have scored the 2nd most goals for in the league on average and given up the 3rd fewest. They’ve allowed the 2nd fewest shots against on average. Their power play is 7th best, and penalty killing is 5th in the WHL.
Victoria’s power play now has scored over their last 9 outings, producing at 40.8% (20/49) and gone from 15th to 4th best efficiency in the league in their 8 game unbeaten streak.
Royals Netminder Patrik Polivka is riding a franchise record 7 game win streak, while Jordon Cooke saw his WHL winning streak end at 20 games Monday night in Kamloops in the 6-5 overtime loss to the Blazers.
Brandon Magee’s point streak is at 9 games (10g 6a). Alex Gogolev pushed his to 9 games (4g 18a) which is also the longest assist streak in the league. Steven Hodges extends his streak to 8 games (9g 5a). The line has produced 47 points in the 8 game unbeaten streak, and 52 in their last 9 together.
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Previous Meetings This Season
Victoria 1 @ Kelowna 6 (Jan 9 2013) Final
Victoria 2 @ Kelowna 4 (Jan 2 2013) Final
Kelowna 2 @ Victoria 3 (Oct 13 2012) Final
Kelowna 4 @ Victoria 1 (Oct 12 2012) Final
Conference standings reflect the order in which teams would qualify for the playoffs (1st thru 8th ). Division leaders (marked with a *) are
automatically seeded first and second. x = Teams who have clinched a playoff spot.
y = Teams who have clinched the conference title
The Victoria Royals fell 6-5 in a shoot out to the visiting Prince Albert Raiders Tuesday night.
The Raiders Mark McNeil tied the game with less than a second to go in the third to force the extra innings.
Hodges scores shorthanded
The Royals had their franchise record 7 game win streak snapped, however picked up a point in the process and find themselves just 1 back of the 5th place Americans with 2 games in hand.
Gogolev celebrates after a breakaway goal
Victoria led 2-0 mid way in the first on goals by Mitch Deacon and Brandon Magee, but trailed 3-2 after 20. They retook the lead with the only 2 goals in the middle frame, Alex Gogolev on breakaway and Steven Hodges short handed. The Raiders scored their 2nd short handed goal of the game to tie it up in the third, before Jack Walker scored on the same power play to retake the lead 5-4. McNeil was credited with the tying goal with one tenth of second left on the clock.
In the shoot out, Steven Hodges, Ben Walker and Brandon Magee were stopped, while Leon Draisaitl scored, but McNeil was denied.
Victoria went 1 for 4 on the power play while allowing 2 short handed markers. They scored a short handed goal on Prince Albert while shutting down all 3 of their man advantages.
Coleman Vollrath
Patrik Polivka riding a 7 game win streak and having started the last 11, played back up to Coleman Vollrath who stopped 30 of 35 for his 6th loss. Luke Siemens earned his 27th win with 28 saves.
The line of Magee (1g), Hodges (1g 1a) and Gogolev (1g 1a) combined for another 5 points, now 52 in their last 9 games.
The Royals saw the return Ben Walker from injury after missing the last 11 games. Tyler Stahl missed his second in a row and is serving an 8 game suspension.
Victoria heads out on the road to play 3 in 3 nights, beginning Thursday in Kelowna, followed by a pair in Prince George.
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Prince Albert Raiders 6 (SO) at Victoria Royals 5 - Status: Final SO
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC
With 7 wins in a row, the Victoria Royals (27-17-1-2 – 57pts) look to extend their franchise record when Dakota Conroy and the Prince Albert Raiders (28-17-1-3 – 60 pts) visit Tuesday night.
It’s their only meeting of the season, as last January Victoria won 6-4 in Prince Albert. The Royals got 3 point each that night from Logan Nelson and Jamie Crooks, while their power play struck 3 times.
The Raider are 3 games into their BC Divison road trip, winning against the Cougars 3-2, and then dropping the next two, 4-1 to the Blazers and 6-2 against the Rockets Saturday.
Prince Albert is 2nd it the Eastern Conference with 28 wins and 60 points. Victoria is 6th in the Western Conference with 27 wins and 57 points, just 2 back of Tri City, while holding 3 games in hand.
The Royals are coming off a pair of home wins against the Giants 6-4 and 4-1 Friday and Saturday.
Victoria’s power play has scored over their last 8 outings, producing at 42.4% (19/45).
Patrik Polivka earned his 23rd victory last game, and set the franchise record with 7 consecutive wins by a netminder, passing Lucas Gore of the Chilliwack Bruins.
Brandon Magee’s point streak is at 8 games (9g 6a). Alex Gogolev pushed his to 8 games (3g 17a) which is also the longest assist streak in the league. Steven Hodges extends his streak to 7 games (8g 4a). The line has produced 42 points in the 7 game streak.
Former Royal Dakota Conroy will face his former club for the first time since being traded on Sept 26th 2012, for a 7th round selection in the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft. He’s producing at almost a point per game for the Raiders, 43 points (18g 25a) in 45 games this season.
After Tuesday`s game Victoria heads out for 3 games in 3 nights on the road, beginning Thursday in Kelowna, and then at Prince George Friday and Saturday.
Brandon Magee scored twice to lead the Victoria Royals to a franchise record 7th consecutive win with a 4-1 victory over the visiting Vancouver Giants Saturday.
Victoria fights for a loose puck in a 4-1 win over Vancouver Saturday
“It feels great, especially the last 3 years being a part of this organization and the tough year we had last year – it’s a pretty good feeling to have the streak going.” – Assistant Coach Enio Sacilotto
The Royals sweep the 2 game set against the Giants, winning 6-4 the night before. It’s their 3rd sweep in 7 back to back home sets this season. Victoria now leads the 10 game season series 6 games to 2 and will meet next on the Island March 8th.
“Obviously really proud of our guys and pleased…the big thing is we’ve gotten large contributions from everybody. Once again our top guys have been good and our young guys have been able to push and feed off it.” – Head Coach Dave Lowry
The Royals are now just 2 points back of the Americans for 5th in the Conference and hold 3 games in hand.
Patrik Polivka has 23 wins
Victoria’s power play continued it’s hot streak, going 2 for 5, while shutting down all 5 Vancouver man advantages. In the Royals last 8 outings the power play is producing at 42.4% (19/45).
Patrik Polivka made 17 saves for his 23rd victory, and set the franchise record with 7 consecutive wins by a netminder, passing Chilliwack Bruins Lucas Gore.
Magee notched 6 goals in the two game set, extending his point streak to 8 games (9g 6a), while Alex Gogolev (1a) pushed his streak to 8 games (3g 17a), and Steven Hodges (1a) to 7 games (8g 4a). The line has produced 42 points in the 7 game streak.
It was the annual Pink In The Rink night and was the first capacity crowd of 7,006 of the season.
Royals Bench on Pink in the Rink night.
Lowry on how the sell out crowd, pumped up the players,
“I think our guys were excited, this is a great building to play in and they’re loud every night…great event, building is full and loud and our guys feed off that.”
L-R Gogolev, Carrol and Polivka celebrate the win.
Jamie Crooks opened the scoring in the first with his 22nd of the season, and 100th in the WHL. Brandon Magee would add a power play goal for his 24th to give the Royals a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.
In the 2nd, Brandon Fushimi would redirect a Joe Hicketts point shot on the power play to give Victoria a 3-0 lead after 40. The Royals outshot the Giants 11-2 in the middle frame.
Magee would strike :51 seconds into the third to take a commanding 4-0 lead. Cain Franson would add a single to round out the scoring and break the shout out bid.
Victoria played without Captain Tyler Stahl (serving game misconduct), Logan Nelson (Lower, 2-3 weeks), Ben Walker (Upper, day to day), Luke Harrison (Upper, indefinite), and Trent Lofthouse (Upper, day to day).
The 3 game home stand wraps up Tuesday against Prince Albert.
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Vancouver Giants 1 at Victoria Royals 4 - Status: Final
Saturday, January 26, 2013 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC
Riding a 6 game winning streak, the Victoria Royals (26-17-1-2, 55pts) can set the franchise record for consecutive wins with a victory over the visiting Vancouver Giants (12-37, 24pts) Saturday evening.
It’s the second meeting in as many nights as Brandon Magee scored 4 goals to get past the Giants 6-4 Friday night. The Royals power play went 3 for 5 while Alex Gogolev chipped in with 4 assists. Netminder Patrik Polivka 6th consecutive win, ties the franchise record set by Lucas Gore of the Chilliwack Bruins.
Victoria holds a 5-2 season series advantage.
The Royals are now just 4 points back of the Americans for 5th in the Conference and hold 3 games in hand.
The Giants have dropped their last 5, sit 10th in the Conference 16 points out of a playoff spot.
At home the Royals now have 16 wins in 23 games (16-5-1-1), while the Giants have 4 wins in 24 games on the road.
Both Jamie Crooks and Tim Traber returned from injury, but were still without Logan Nelson (Lower, 2-3 weeks), Ben Walker (Upper, day to day), Luke Harrison (Upper, indefinite), and Trent Lofthouse (Upper, day to day).
Victoria’s Captain, D Tyler Stahl received a game misconduct for a check to the head in the first period.
Hodges had his 5 game goal scoring streak snapped, but with his 2 helpers extends his point streak to 6 games (8g 3a), Magee stretches his streak to 7 games (7g 6a) while Gogolev also pushes his to 7 games and 19 points (3g 16a).
Gogolev is now tied for 11th in league scoring with 59 points while surpassing last years point total of 57 in 69 games with the Hitmen. He now has back to back 4 point outings, and second 4 assist game, the first coming on opening night in Vancouver. It was his third 4 point night of the season.
Brett Cote added a pair of assists for a third game in a row, Fushimi now has points in 3 straight (3g 1a), and Austin Carroll’s helper gives him 4 points in his last 3 outings (1g 2a).
After Vancouver Saturday, Victoria entertains Prince Albert Tuesday before heading out on the road for 3 games in 3 nights beginning next Thursday in Kelowna.
Previous Meetings This Season
Vancouver 4 @ Victoria 6 (Jan 25 2013) Final Victoria 6 @ Vancouver 2 (Jan 18 2013) Final Vancouver 7 @ Victoria 2 (Dec 5 2012) Final Victoria 1 @ Vancouver 4 (Oct 26 2012) Final Victoria 2 @ Vancouver 1 (Oct 7 2012) Final Vancouver 2 @ Victoria 3 (Sep 22 2012) Final Victoria 6 @ Vancouver 4 (Sep 21 2012) Final
Brandon Magee scored 4 goals to lead the Royals to a 6-4 win over the Giants
Brandon Magee scored 4 times to lead the Victoria Royals past the visiting Vancouver Giants 6-4 Friday night.
Brandon Fushimi scored a pair in the win.
It was see saw affair as Victoria opened the scoring, but trailed 2-1 after 20, lead 4-3 after 40, and stormed ahead 6-3 before surrendering a goal late. The Royals are now just 4 points back of the Americans for 5th in the Conference and hold 3 games in hand.
Magee ties Kevin Sundher for the franchise record most goals scored in a single game. He now leads the club in goals with 23.
The victory also ties the 2011 Chilliwack Bruins for most consecutive victories with 6 in a row as Victoria takes a 5-2 season series lead. They’ll meet again on the Island Saturday night. Brandon Magee - on the 4 goal game
Magee celebrates a 4 goal night
Reigning CHL Player of the Week Alex Gogolev had 4 assists, Steven Hodges 2 helpers, coupled with Magee’s 4 goal performance gave the line 10 points on the evening. They now have produced 38 points in the 6 game winning streak.
The Royals power play continued to dominate, scoring 3 times on 5 chances and has produced in 7 straight, going 17 for 40 (42.5%) in that stretch. The Giants went 1 for 5.
Patrik Polivka earned his 22nd win making 20 saves, while the Giants split the goaltending duties. 16 year old Payton Lee got the start, but was replaced after allowing 5 goals on 20 shots. Jared Rathjen came in relief to face his former club for the first time in the 3rd, stopping 8 of 9. Brandon Magee - on 6 game win streak
Brandon Magee would open the scoring in the first, finishing off a pretty passing play from linemate Steven Hodges and Alex Gogolev. Carter Popoff would slap a one timer past Polivka to even the score, and Cain Franson would convert on a breakaway to give the Giants a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.
There were 2 fights in the first, Tim Traber with the decision of Mason Geertsen in the first minute, and Logan Fisher against Arvin Atwal after Tyler Stahl took a checking to the head penalty and game misconduct on Franson.
Victoria would tie it up at 2 with Brandon Fushimi’s 4th of the year early in the 2nd. Vancouver’s Jackson Houck would strike on a penalty shot just 1:09 later, but a pair of power play goals by Brandon Magee would regain the lead for the Royals before the period was out. It would also give Magee his first hat trick with the club.
Jackson Houck had 2 goals, including this one on Penalty Shot.
Magee would add his team leading 23rd of the season and 4th of the night just :32 seconds into the 3rd. Brandon Fushimi’s 5th and 2nd of the night would give Victoria their first 3 goal lead while on the man advantage. Jackson Houck would score on a 5 on 3 power play late for his 2nd of the night to close out the scoring.
The final frame saw 2 more fights, Brett Cote squaring off against Blake Orban after a hit on Jamie Crooks. Kolton Dixon fought Jason Trott as well.
Brett Cote added a pair of assists for a third game in a row, Fushimi now has points in 3 straight (3g 1a), and Austin Carroll’s helper gives him 4 points in his last 3 outings (1g 2a).
Hodges had his 5 game goal scoring streak snapped, but with his 2 helpers extends his point streak to 6 games (8g 3a), Magee stretches his streak to 7 games (7g 6a) while Gogolev also pushes his to 7 games and 19 points (3g 16a).
Gogolev is now tied for 11th in league scoring with 59 points while surpassing last years point total of 57 in 69 games with the Hitmen. He now has back to back 4 point outings, and second 4 assist game, the first coming on opening night in Vancouver. It was his third 4 point night of the season.
Both Jamie Crooks and Tim Traber returned from injury, but were still without Logan Nelson (Lower, 2-3 weeks), Ben Walker (Upper, day to day), Luke Harrison (Upper, indefinite), and Trent Lofthouse (Upper, day to day).
The Giants have dropped their last 5, sit 10th in the Conference 16 points out of a playoff spot.
At home the Royals now have 16 wins in 23 games (16-5-1-1), while the Giants have 4 wins in 24 games on the road.
After Vancouver Saturday, Victoria entertains Prince Albert Tuesday before heading out on the road for 3 games in 3 nights beginning next Thursday in Kelowna.
Vancouver Giants 4 at Victoria Royals 6 - Status: Final
Friday, January 25, 2013 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC
Victoria swaps a pair of late-round picks for defenceman with Portland.
For Immediate Release
Friday, January 25, 2013
Victoria, BC – The
Victoria Royals today announced that the club has acquired the rights to
defenceman Troy Stecher (1994) from the Portland Winterhawks in exchange for
two eighth round picks in the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft. Stecher was a player on
Portland’s 50-man player protected list. Teams are permitted to trade list
players after the WHL trade deadline.
Originally drafted in the seventh round of the 2009
WHL Bantam Draft by the Winterhawks, Stecher currently plays for the Penticton
Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). As the Vees’ captain this
season, the 5-11, 180 pound defenceman has posted an impressive 36 points
(7g-29a) through 39 games played.
Stecher has been a member of the Vees for the past
three seasons. In the 2011-12 season, the Richmond, BC native recorded 42
points (5g-37a) in 53 games of BCHL action en route to an RBC Cup championship.
In the 2010-11 campaign, Stecher posted 20 points (5g-15a) with Penticton as a
rookie.
We are Royal Blue! Are you? Guarantee yourself the
best seats for upcoming Royals games by visiting www.selectyourtickets.com, calling
250-220-7777 or visiting the Select Your Tickets box-office at the
Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Mini-Packs, Vouchers and special rates for
groups of 10+ are available by visiting www.victoriaroyals.com
or calling 250-220-7889.
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