Recap Game 3: VIC 6 - SPK 1

Jordan Fransoo scores top corner in a 6-1 Royals win.

Austin Carroll had 3 points on his 20th birthday as the visiting Victoria Royals defeated the Spokane Chiefs 6-1 Wednesday, taking a stranglehold 3-0 series lead.

“Our guys did a really good job tonight being ready early, and we were able to establish our game and carry it for a full 60 minutes.” – Royals Head Coach Dave Lowry

Victoria can close out the series Thursday night in Spokane.

“They’re not going away…they have a lot of pride, they’re going to play right to the end…the fourth one is the toughest one to win – and we have to make sure we’re prepared to start the game.” said Lowry on a chance to sweep the Chiefs.

The Royals led 4-0 after 20 minutes, and 5-1 after 40.  Victoria’s power play was an effective 3 for 6, while holding Mike Aviani off the scoresheet, and Mitch Holmberg to just 1 assist – his first point of the post season.

“The awareness on the bench was outstanding, to come in here and not have last change and get the match ups that we wanted tonight – credit to our guys.” Said Lowry on shutting down the dynamic duo.

Polivka earned his 3rd straight win

The Royals were a disciplined bunch, and shut down the only two Chief man advantages.

“We felt at home we got away from the strength of our team all year – our ability to push the pace and play whistle to whistle…and we got dragged into the extra curricular stuff after the whistle...”  Said Lowry on the disicpline,

Ben Walker scored just :11 seconds in

“Tonight our guys did a really good job, we felt our tough guy was going to be our power play and that was the difference in the game.”

Victoria outshot Spokane for a third game in a row 24-21, with Patrik Polivka earning his 3rd straight playoff win.   Eric Williams was replaced mid way throught the third by Garrett Hughson.

Victoria set many post season franchise records, including most goals in a period with 4, largest winning margin with 5, most goals for with 6, allowing the fewest shots against in a period with 3 in the first and winning the most games in a playoff series with 3.

Austin Carroll and Travis Brown celebrate a goal

Ben Walker set the tone off the opening faceoff, scoring just 11 seconds in, to set the franchise record for quickest goal to start a playoff game and to start a period.   It was just 4 seconds shy of the WHL playoff record held by Trevor Linden.


“You get that goal first shift, and that allowed us to settle in and play how we really wanted to play…” said Lowry

Victoria doubled their lead on a goal from Austin Carroll finishing a 3 on 1 play.  Captain Jordan Fransoo made it a 3-0 game with a solo powerplay effort splitting the defense and roofing the puck glove side.

Carroll added his second of the period with the man advantage to put the Royals up 4-0 heading to the second.

Magee had 3 assists

Liam Stewart got the Chiefs on the board but Victoria responded just :29 seconds later on Nelson’s second goal of the playoffs.

In the third, on a late powerplay, Travis Brown buried his second of the playoffs to round out the game’s scoring.

Carroll #1 star on his 20th Birthday

Carroll ended his birthday night with 2 goals and an assist, and perhaps should have been credited a second assist on Brown’s late goal. 

“I turned 20 today and you always hope to have a good game on your birthday and it turned out that way, so I’m really happy.” said Carroll.

Nelson was the 2nd star with a goal and an assist along with defenseman Travis Brown.  Brandon Magee was the 3rd star and leads the team in scoring with 6 points after a 3 assist night. 

Pregame show at 6:45 Thursday night from Spokane on The Zone @ 91.3 fm.

Anthem Time

Starting Line

Ben Walker stares down Proft

Holmberg picked up his first assist of the post season, and his stick.

- Marlon Martens

Victoria Royals 6 at Spokane Chiefs 1 - Status: End of Game
Wednesday, March 26, 2014 - Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena

Victoria 4 1 1 - 6
Spokane 0 1 0 - 1

1st Period-
1, Victoria, Walker 2 (Magee), 0:11.
2, Victoria, Carroll 1 (Nelson, Kanzig), 7:37.
3, Victoria, Fransoo 1   13:31 (PP).
4, Victoria, Carroll 2 (Magee, Brown), 15:44 (PP).

Penalties-McIntosh Spo (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 12:32; Aviani Spo (hooking), 14:19.

2nd Period-
5, Spokane, Stewart 2 (Fram, Holmberg), 10:04.
6, Victoria, Nelson 2 (Hodges, Carroll), 10:33.

Penalties-Magee Vic (interference), 7:32; McIntosh Spo (high sticking), 13:07; Magee Vic (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 17:02; Helewka Spo (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 17:02; Bobyk Spo (roughing), 18:13.

3rd Period-
7, Victoria, Brown 2 (Magee, Cote), 18:31 (PP).

Penalties-Walker Vic (roughing), 16:16; Bobyk Spo (roughing), 16:33; Stewart Spo (roughing), 17:18; Fransoo Vic (roughing), 19:16; Zwerger Spo (roughing), 19:16.

Shots on Goal-
Victoria 11-6-2-19.
Spokane 3-8-10-21.

Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 3 / 6;
Spokane 0 / 2.

Goalies-
Victoria, Polivka 3-0-0-0 (21 shots-20 saves).
Spokane, Williams 0-1-2-0 (22 shots-17 saves);
Hughson 0-0-0-0 (2 shots-1 saves).

A-3,412
Referees-Mike Campbell (89), Steve Papp (17).
Linesmen-Anthony Guzzo (135), Bevan Mills (98).