Pregame show on the Zone @ 91.3 or online at www.thezone.fm at 6:40, puck drop 7pm.
It’s the home opener for the Giants, who beat the Royals in exhbition by a score of 3-0.
It’s also the regular season debut for their new bench boss Troy Ward, a name Victoria fans are familiar with from his days coaching the Salmon Kings. He was previously with the AHL Abbotsford Heat.
Last year, both clubs earned 5-4-1 records against each other, and will face each other a total of 10 times again this season.
The G-men won 32 games overall, finishing 7th in the Conference and bowing out in 4 to the Winterhawks.
Vancouver will be without their leading goal scorer from last season, Jackson Houck who’s in main camp with Edmonton, and defenseman Mason Geertson, attending Colorado’s.
The Giants will have three 20 year olds dressed in Dalton Sward, Joe Hamilton and Matt Bellerieve. Graduating players include Tim Traber (Pro-Swiss), Dalton Thrower (Montreal) and Cain Franson (66pts). Defenseman Brett Kulak is with the Flames.
1st overall selection in 2013, Tyler Benson will begin his rookie campaign after scoring 95 points in 49 games with Kelowna’s Pursuit of Excellence. It will be the 2nd season for defenseman Dmitry Osipov, taken 1st overall in the 2013 CHL Import draft from Russia.
The Royals will dress a very similar and young line up, with 7 newcomers in the fold, as 5 players are still away at NHL Main Camps.
In Calgary it’s Brandon Magee (f/a), Austin Carroll (7th rd) and Keegan Kanzig (signed). Axel Blomqvist (signed) with Winnipeg and Joe Hicketts (f/a) with Detroit.
Friday night in Kamloops, the Blazers jumped out to a 3-0 first period lead on the Royals and never let up in the 6-3 win.
Mitch Skapski and Travis Brown tallied a goal and assist each, while 16 year old defenseman Ralph Jarratt notched his first WHL goal.
Coleman Vollrath and Evan Smith split the goaltending duties. The Royals edged the Blazers 33-32 in shots as both clubs struck once with man advantage.
Saturday night Victoria looks to get into the win column and avenge the preseason game loss to Vancouver at the Pacific Colesium.
- Marlon Martens
Victoria Royals vs Vancouver Giants: Head To Head Stats
Summary
How the 2 teams match up
Summary
Description
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Result
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| Head to Head Record 2013-14 Regular Season | Victoria 5-4-0-1 | Vancouver 5-4-1-0 |
| Head to Head Record 2012-13 Regular Season | Victoria 7-3-0-0 | Vancouver 3-7-0-0 |
| Last 5 Years record between teams | Victoria 23-24-1-2 | Vancouver 27-22-1-0 |
| Victoria vs. Vancouver Last 5 Years record at Victoria | Victoria 13-10-0-2 | Vancouver 12-12-1-0 |
| Victoria vs. Vancouver Last 5 Years record at Vancouver | Victoria 10-14-1-0 | Vancouver 15-10-0-0 |
| Previous Meetings This Season | Victoria 2 @ Vancouver 3 (Mar 12 2014) Final Victoria 3 @ Vancouver 2 (Feb 10 2014) Final Vancouver 2 @ Victoria 3 (Feb 1 2014) Final OT Vancouver 5 @ Victoria 4 (Jan 31 2014) Final SO Victoria 3 @ Vancouver 1 (Jan 25 2014) Final Victoria 2 @ Vancouver 3 (Dec 10 2013) Final Vancouver 7 @ Victoria 4 (Dec 7 2013) Final Vancouver 2 @ Victoria 4 (Dec 6 2013) Final Vancouver 2 @ Victoria 1 (Sep 21 2013) Final Victoria 4 @ Vancouver 2 (Sep 20 2013) Final |
How the 2 teams match up
Vancouver
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Victoria
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| Team Record | 32-29-7-4 -- 75 points | 48-20-1-3 -- 100 points |
| Division Ranking | 3rd B.C. | 2nd B.C. |
| Conference Ranking | 7th Western | 3rd Western |
| League Ranking | 16th | 6th |
| Past 10 Games | 3-6-0-1 | 6-4-0-0 |
| Streak | 0-2-0-0 | 0-3-0-0 |
| Last Game | 5-3 L @ Kelowna (Mar 15 2014) Final | 3-2 L @ Everett (Mar 15 2014) Final |
| Home Record | 19-16-0-1 | 22-11-1-2 |
| Away Record | 13-13-7-3 | 26-9-0-1 |
| GF | 234 | 238 |
| GA | 248 | 181 |
| PP (Overall) | (71/293) 24.2 | (61/297) 20.5 |
| PP (Home) | (37/145) 25.5 | (33/153) 21.6 |
| PP (Away) | (34/148) 23.0 | (28/144) 19.4 |
| PK (Overall) | (61/312) 80.4 | (53/284) 81.3 |
| PK (Home) | (31/156) 80.1 | (29/146) 80.1 |
| PK (Away) | (30/156) 80.8 | (24/138) 82.6 |
| Leading Rookie | Eder (2-1-3) | Dykstra (1-0-1) |
| Most PIM | Traber - 162 | Carroll - 114 |
| Team PIM/GM | 15.8/Game | 13.9/Game |
| Leading Scorers | Popoff (13-51-64) | Magee (25-42-67) |
| Franson (30-33-63) | Carroll (34-23-57) | |
| Houck (34-27-61) | Blomqvist (24-32-56) | |
| Kulak (14-46-60) | Walker (24-30-54) | |
| Hamilton (13-33-46) | Nelson (23-31-54) |
