VOICE OF THE VICTORIA ROYALS: Recap: VIC 1 - PORT 5 (Hawks win series 4-1)

*Hear from Jordan Fransoo, Ben Walker, Logan Nelson, Dave Lowry and GM Cam Hope post series thoughts here: https://soundcloud.com/voice_vicroyals/tracks *

The visiting Victoria Royals season came to a close last night in a 5-1 loss against the Portland Winterhawks, falling 4 games to 1.

“It hurts to lose, as a coach you’re extremely disappointed to see these guys and the pain the feel and the disappointment they incur, but that’s part of the process.” Said Head Coach Dave Lowry,

Ceremonial Hand Shake

“To win you have to go throught this, we’ll be a better team moving forward, our young guys and the guys that will return will remember this and know that it’s hard to win.”

Hodges would score

Portland advances to the Western Conference Final for a 4th straight year and will now face the Kelowna Rockets.

Victoria did not go down with out a fight, amassing 86 minutes in a fiesty, scrap filled affair.

Portland’s Oliver Bjorkstrand had a 4 point night with a goal and three assists, while Chase Deleo scored a pair. Steven Hodges had the lone goal for Victoria.

Patrik Polivka made 35 saves, while his counterpart Brendan Burke stopped 31.

The ‘Hawks lead 2-0 after 20 on goals by Taylor Leir on the power play and Adam DeChamplain banking one in off Polivka from behind the goal with just :34 seconds left in the frame.

Bjorkstrand pounced on a loose puck in the second period to go up 3-0 before Hodges struck on the power play. Two fights broke out at the end of the middle frame resulting in ejections to Hodges and Joe Hicketts, while Derrick Pouliot was tossed for the ‘Hawks.

In the third Chase Deleo added a pair, including one on the power play to put the game away. Ryan Gagnon and Nic Petan squared off as tempers flared.

“It’s definitely going to go down as one my least favourite games of my career so far..” said Logan Nelson,

"Portland played really well all series, I thought we battled hard too, right down to the end. I can’t say enough about my teammates, and the coaching staff – and I’m happy I can end my (WHL) career here.”

Royals realize their fate

The Royals graduate their three 20 year olds, Jordan Fransoo, Logan Nelson and Ben Walker who played together on a line with his younger brother Jack for the last time.

“They have to carry this with them, it’s all part and parcel - experience and everything that…wherever they end up next year, pro or school, there’s a price that has to be paid to win.” said Lowry about the overagers,

“They’ve lived on the side where they haven’t gotten the results, and hopefully they can use that experience and they can share it.”

Victoria wrapped up a franchise best season, including a 100 point campaign, and reaching the 2nd round for the first time.

“It’s really satisfying, really gratifying to see the results to be a part of a group to get 100 points in a season, that says a lot about your group of kids, and to get into the second round and lose to one of the best teams in the country there’s no shame – but there’s huge disappointment.” According to Lowry,

“This was an unbelievable group and it started last year, it carried over this year and we know moving forward, next year it’s going to be an even better team.”- Marlon Martens

Austin Carroll attempts to score on Brendan Burke

*More pictures below scoring summary*

Victoria Royals 1 at Portland Winterhawks 5 - Status: Final
Thursday, April 10, 2014 - Moda Center - Portland, OR

Victoria 0 1 0 - 1
Portland 2 1 2 - 5

1st Period-
1, Portland, Leier 4 (Bjorkstrand, Leipsic), 13:46 (PP).
2, Portland, De Champlain 2 (Turgeon, Pouliot), 19:26.

Penalties-Bittner Por (slashing), 8:47; Magee Vic (cross checking), 13:10; Soy Vic (roughing), 15:31; Texeira Por (roughing), 15:31.

2nd Period-
3, Portland, Bjorkstrand 9 (Leier, Pouliot), 10:31.
4, Victoria, Hodges 4 (Brown, Soy), 15:11 (PP).

Penalties-Hicketts Vic (cross checking), 7:26; Hicketts Vic (roughing), 14:14; Leipsic Por (roughing), 14:14; Pouliot Por (slashing), 15:03; Magee Vic (roughing), 19:56; Leipsic Por (roughing, roughing), 19:56; Carroll Vic (10-minute misconduct), 20:00; Hicketts Vic (major-fighting, game misconduct), 20:00; Hodges Vic (instigator, major-fighting, game misconduct, 10-minute misconduct), 20:00; Pouliot Por (major-fighting, game misconduct), 20:00; Turgeon Por (major-fighting), 20:00.

3rd Period-
5, Portland, De Leo 4 (Bjorkstrand, Texeira), 12:22.
6, Portland, De Leo 5 (Bjorkstrand, Cederholm), 17:57 (PP).

Penalties-Petan Por (tripping), 12:46; Brown Vic (holding), 14:33; Kanzig Vic (10-minute misconduct), 14:58; Gagnon Vic (major-fighting), 15:10; Magee Vic (high sticking, match-attempt/injure), 15:10; Leipsic Por (roughing, 10-minute misconduct), 15:10; Petan Por (instigator, major-fighting, game misconduct), 15:10; Carroll Vic (slashing), 18:09.

Shots on Goal-
Victoria 7-10-15-32.
Portland 10-14-16-40.

Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 1 / 4;
Portland 2 / 6.

Goalies-
Victoria, Polivka 5-4-0-0 (40 shots-35 saves).
Portland, Burke 8-1-0-0 (32 shots-31 saves).

A-8,083
Referees-Jeff Ingram (82), Derek Zalaski (8).
Linesmen-Jarrod Boman (116), Nathan Van Oosten (115).