The Royals dropped their first two games of the season, both on the road as they fell 6-3 in Kamloops Friday.
Saturday, Travis Brown scored the lone goal for Victoria on the power play as they opened the scoring, but a pair of Vancouver goals late in the first period just :39 seconds apart gave them the eventual game winner.
The Royals were still without 5 veterans away at NHL camps, and dressed 7 first year players.
There were two fights, Taylor Crunk squared off against Jack McClelland and Slovakian forward Kristian Ferletak went up against Matt Bellerieve.
Victoria was 1 for 6 on the power play, while shutting down all 5 Vancouver man advantages.
The G-men outshot the Royals 45-12.
It was the first of 10 meetings this season, and they’ll square off again next Sunday night in Vancouver at 5 pm.
The Royals hold their home opener this Friday as they entertain the Blazers for a pair of back to back games.
- Marlon Martens
ROYALS TOPPED BY GIANTS
Victoria falls 3-1 to Vancouver.
For Immediate Release
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Vancouver, BC- The Victoria Royals lost a 3-1 decision to the Vancouver Giants on Saturday night in Vancouver’s season opener at Pacific Coliseum.
Veteran goaltender Coleman Vollrath made his second consecutive start in goal for the Royals, while the Giants countered with Payton Lee between the pipes.
Victoria opened the scoring in the first period with a power play marker from defenceman Travis Brown. Vancouver answered back with two goals in 39 seconds for a 2-1 advantage after 20 minutes.
The Giants would add a third goal in the final frame to round out the scoring. Joel Hamilton scored the winning goal, while Tyler Morrison and Trevor Foster had the other tallies for Vancouver.
Victoria went 1/6=16.7% with the man advantage, while Vancouver went 0/5=0.0%.
Victoria scratched 20-year-olds Brandon Magee, and Austin Carroll along with regulars Keegan Kanzig, Joe Hicketts and Axel Blomqvist who were all away attending NHL training camps.
The Royals kick-off their 2014-15 home schedule with a Friday night clash versus the Kamloops Blazers on September 26th. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Interested in joining our Royal Family? Royals season ticket packages start at just $414 and offer a host of fantastic benefits including early entrance to home games, savings at the Royals team store, monthly e-newsletters, and first right of refusal on the same seats for the play-offs. Get the full details at www.victoriaroyals.com or by calling 250-220-7889.
Victoria Royals 1 at Vancouver Giants 3 - Status: Final
Saturday, September 20, 2014 - Pacific Coliseum - Vancouver, BC
Victoria 1 0 0 - 1
Vancouver 2 0 1 - 3
1st Period-
1, Victoria, Brown 2 (Reddekopp, Fushimi), 11:32 (PP).
2, Vancouver, Hamilton 1 (Stukel), 17:15.
3, Vancouver, Morrison 1 (Popoff), 17:54.
Penalties-Brumm Van (hooking), 2:16; Hamilton Van (high sticking, high sticking), 8:01; Bellerive Van (slashing), 11:09; Palmer Vic (tripping), 19:00.
2nd Period-
No Scoring.
Penalties-Crunk Vic (major-fighting), 3:28; McClelland Van (major-fighting), 3:28; Gagnon Vic (checking from behind), 13:31.
3rd Period-
4, Vancouver, Foster 1 (Benson, Morrison), 10:59.
Penalties-Popoff Van (tripping), 0:34; Soy Vic (tripping), 2:29; Brown Vic (roughing), 8:59; Sward Van (roughing), 8:59; Fisher Vic (cross checking), 12:25; served by Oleksyn Vic (too many men), 14:41; Foster Van (slashing), 16:20; Ferletak Vic (major-fighting), 19:36; Bellerive Van (major-fighting), 19:36.
Shots on Goal-
Victoria 4-6-2-12.
Vancouver 11-18-16-45.
Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 1 / 6;
Vancouver 0 / 5.
Goalies-
Victoria, Vollrath 0-2-0-0 (45 shots-42 saves).
Vancouver, Lee 1-0-0-0 (12 shots-11 saves).
A-5,793
Referees-Brett Iverson (24), Mark Pearce (5).
Linesmen-Ron Dietterle (121), Nathan Van Oosten (115).
