Recap: VIC 3 - SPK 2 OT (Wed, Mar.30.2016)

Alex Forsberg won it in overtime, and was the games 1st star

Alex Forsberg was the overtime hero, lifting the visiting Victoria Royals to a 3-2 win over the Spokane Chiefs Wednesday, taking a 3-1 playoff series lead.

Forsberg parked in front of Petersen

“It felt fantastic,” said Forsberg, “I didn’t really do a whole bunch the first three games, I was pretty frustrated.  To get it going is big for me.”

The Royals can win the series Friday night in Victoria.

“I really liked our game tonight, I liked our compete and our guys got what they deserved tonight just by how hard they worked.” Said Head Coach Dave Lowry,

It was Forsberg’s second of the game, Jack Walker had two assists and Matthew Phillips (2^nd) tallied the other for Victoria.

The club celebrates the overtime win.

“The bounce back effort,” said Lowry on what he liked about his clubs performance, after falling 5-2 one night earlier.

“…and how we were able to raise our level of compete and get back to playing our brand.”

Royals Rookie netminder Griffen Outhouse made his WHL playoff debut stopping 30 of 32 shots.

Outhouse readies for a shot.

“It was really exciting…I actually got my regular season start here too – it’s kind of a cool building to play in.” said Outhouse who led the league in goals against average and save percentage.

Outhouse also had a shutout in Spokane back on October 24^th.

“We needed a different look,” said Lowry on the decision to bring in the rookie netminder after Coleman Vollrath played the first 3.

Outhouse was the 3rd star with 30 saves.

“We had to find a way to spark our team after last night…He’s played in a lot of big games.  The one thing that he does is that he settles in and plays.”

Chiefs ‘tender Lasse Petersen allowed 3 on 26 attempts.

Joe Hicketts missed his third straight game (undisclosed), while veteran defenseman Ryan Gagnon drew back into the line up after serving the final of a 2 game suspension.

“It really settled our team down,” said Lowry on bringing Gagnon back in,“…It’s a big win.”

Spokane opened the scoring for a third straight game, but Victoria twice came back to tie.  Forsberg forced overtime scoring just 1:08 after the Chiefs took a 2-1 lead in the middle frame.

It was a scoreless third, and Victoria came out flying in the single overtime period.

“I think it was the urgency that we knew how critical it was to get the win here tonight.” Said Lowry on the jump in the extra frame,

“We needed to find the energy, the step, to make sure we didn’t lose 2 games in a row…and I give Fisher a lot of credit, he got these guys ready to play tonight.”

The Royals were 1 for 6, while the Chiefs went 1 for 2.

Victoria has won 15 straight on home ice.

“We know the fourth one is always the hardest one to win, and (the Chiefs) are going to come in with a purpose to try to bring it back to (Spokane)…and we want to do everything within our control to make sure that doesn’t happen.” Added Lowry.

Puck drop Friday at 7:05.

- Marlon Martens

Victoria Royals 3 (OT) at Spokane Chiefs 2 - Status: Overtime Final
Wednesday, March 30, 2016 - Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena

Victoria 1 1 0 1 - 3
Spokane 1 1 0 0 - 2

1st Period-

1, Spokane, Zwerger 1 (Kopeck, Ka. Yamamoto), 4:09.

2, Victoria, Phillips 2 (Walker, Soy), 9:51 (PP).

Penalties-served by Andersen Spo (too many men), 8:50.

2nd Period-

3, Spokane, Kopeck 2 (Fram, Ke. Yamamoto), 8:00 (PP).

4, Victoria, Forsberg 1   9:08.

Penalties-Kopeck Spo (tripping), 3:38; Walford Vic (tripping), 7:11; Reddekopp Vic (high sticking), 10:00; Anderson-Dolan Spo (hooking), 16:17; Walker Vic (slashing), 17:37; Zwerger Spo (embellishment), 17:37.

3rd Period-

No Scoring.

Penalties-Zwerger Spo (interference), 0:42; Sozanski Spo (high sticking), 8:10; Bechtold Spo (face off violation), 13:24.

OT Period-

5, Victoria, Forsberg 2 (Walker, Jarratt), 8:41.

Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-

Victoria 8-5-7-6-26.

Spokane 12-11-6-3-32.

Power Play Opportunities-

Victoria 1 / 6;

Spokane 1 / 2.

Goalies-

Victoria, Outhouse 0-0-0-0 (32 shots-30 saves).

Spokane, Petersen 1-2-0-0 (26 shots-23 saves).

A-3,612
Referees-Adam Griffiths (36), Curtis Marouelli (86).
Linesmen-Jason Michelbook (112), Trevor Shively (11).

Recap: VIC 2 - SPK 5 (Tues.March.29.2016)

National Anthems in Spokane

Keanu Yamamoto had three assists for the Spokane Chiefs who upended the visiting Victoria Royals 5-2 Tuesday night.

“I don’t think we were ready to play…” said Victoria Head Coach Dave Lowry,

“And I’ll take blame for that, my responsibility is to make sure this team is ready to play…”

The Royals still lead the best of seven playoff series 2 games to 1.

Royals Bench

“Battle level, compete, urgency, everything that you need to win at this time of year…” said Lowry about the difference in the game,

“For us it just was not a very good effort all around.”

The two clubs meet again Wednesday in Spokane, with Game 5 in Victoria on Friday.

The Chiefs built period leads of 2-0 and 5-0, before Victoria responded with a pair in the third.

“We started competing, and starting executing, and started playing the way we have to play,” according to Lowry on the clubs strong third.

“One thing we talked about, was that we have to find a way to generate some momentum, and I thought we did that in the third period.”

Spokane jumped to a 4 and 5-0 lead with a pair of goals just :29 seconds apart in the middle frame.

Face off in Royals Zone

The Royals played a second straight game without veteran rearguards Joe Hicketts (undisclosed), and Ryan Gagnon who served the final of a two game suspension.

“When you take those guys out, other guys have to raise their game…” said Lowry.

Spokane out shot their visitors 33-18 after 40 minutes and 37-24 overall.

Coleman Vollrath made 34 saves in the loss, while Lasse Petersen stopped 22 for his first win in the post season.

The Royals were 1 for 5 on the power play, but the Chiefs went 2 for 6.

Victoria got a pair of goals form rookies Matthew Phillips and defenseman Scott Walford, their first WHL playoff markers.  Walford totalled two points (1g 1a).

Spokane got goals from Jaret Anderson-Dolan (1g 1a), Jason Fram, Hudson Elynuik, Presten Kopeck, and Jordan Henderson.  Dominic Zwerger had 2 assists.

It was another physical affair with 48 minutes of penalties handed out, 38 of which went to the Royals.

“The physical part isn’t going to bothersome – I thought we managed it.” Said Lowry.

Victoria had their 7 game road win streak snapped, along with their 15 game win streak overall.

“It stings,” said Lowry, “You’re frustrated, but at the end of the day you’ve lost once in 16 games…we’ll be ready to go (Wednesday). 

- Marlon Martens
 

Series Schedule:

Wednesday, March 30th – Victoria @ Spokane – 7:05 p.m.

Friday, April 1st – Spokane @ Victoria – 7:05 p.m. (if necessary)

Sunday, April 3rd – Victoria @ Spokane – 5:05 p.m. (if necessary)

Tuesday, April 5th – Spokane @ Victoria – 7:05 p.m. (if necessary)

 

Victoria Royals 2 at Spokane Chiefs 5 - Status: End of Game
Tuesday, March 29, 2016 - Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena

Victoria 0 0 2 - 2
Spokane 2 3 0 - 5

1st Period-

1, Spokane, Fram 1 (Zwerger, Ke. Yamamoto), 7:26.

2, Spokane, Henderson 1 (Fiala, Ke. Yamamoto), 17:39.

Penalties-Bechtold Spo (checking from behind), 0:34; Walker Vic (high sticking), 5:23; Ke. Yamamoto Spo (hooking), 14:49.

2nd Period-

3, Spokane, Elynuik 3 (Anderson-Dolan, Sozanski), 9:06 (PP).

4, Spokane, Kopeck 1 (Ke. Yamamoto, Zwerger), 16:10 (PP).

5, Spokane, Anderson-Dolan 1 (Miske, Cardiff), 16:39.

Penalties-Walker Vic (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 0:00; Ka. Yamamoto Spo (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 0:00; Pachal Vic (cross checking), 7:34; Walford Vic (cross checking), 14:16; Kopeck Spo (tripping), 17:01.

3rd Period-

6, Victoria, Phillips 1 (Hannoun, Walford), 3:40 (PP).

7, Victoria, Walford 1 (Reddekopp, Soy), 18:02.

Penalties-Fisher Vic (interference), 0:50; Fram Spo (holding), 2:16; Bechtold Spo (inter. on goaltender), 6:17; Forsberg Vic (slashing, 10-minute misconduct), 9:16; Dmytriw Vic (roughing), 14:52; Pachal Vic (roughing), 14:52; Bechtold Spo (roughing), 14:52; Ke. Yamamoto Spo (roughing), 14:52; Nagy Vic (roughing), 17:03; Miske Spo (tripping), 17:03; Pachal Vic (slashing), 18:31.

Shots on Goal-

Victoria 9-9-6-24.

Spokane 17-16-4-37.

Power Play Opportunities-

Victoria 1 / 5;

Spokane 2 / 6.

Goalies-

Victoria, Vollrath 2-1-0-0 (37 shots-32 saves).

Spokane, Petersen 1-2-0-0 (24 shots-22 saves).

A-0
Referees-Jeff Ingram (82), Nick Swaine (35).
Linesmen-Jeremi Del Campo (44), Anthony Guzzo (135).

Preview: Game #03 - Victoria at Spokane (Tues, March.29.2016)

Spokane Arena

The Victoria Royals take 2-0 best of seven playoff series lead into Spokane for games 3 & 4 Tuesday and Wednesday night.

Radio: The Zone @ 91.3 fm www.thezone.fm/royals

Online: http://cjzn.streamon.fm/

Players at morning skate

The Royals won a pair of home games over the weekend by 5-3 and 4-3 scores on Friday and Saturday respectively, outscoring the Chiefs 9-6.

Spokane outshot Victoria 33-21, snapping the Royals streak of outshoot the opposition in 20 straight games (18-1-1-0).

Bobylev

The line of Vladimir Bobylev (6a), Tyler Soy (3g), and Jack Walker (2g 1a) have combined for 12 points in the series so far for Victoria.

In turn, Bobylev was named the WHL Player of the Week Monday with 6 points.  He has 22 points over his last 10 games (6g 16a).

Defenseman Joe Hicketts (undisclosed) had 3 points (1g 2a) in the opener, but he along with Ryan Gagnon did not play in game 2.  Gagnon will serve the final of a 2 game suspension Tuesday.

Four Spokane players have 2 points so far, with Jacob Cardiff and Hudson Elynuik leading the way with a pair of goals each.  Keanu Yamamoto has 1g 1a, and Jason Fram 2 helpers for the Chiefs.

In the regular season, the clubs split the two games in Spokane, with the Chiefs winning 2-1 October 23^rd, and the Royals responding with a 3-0 victory the following night.  Griffen Outhouse earned the shutout.

Victoria Netminder Coleman Vollrath stopped 30 of 33 Saturday, and has earned both victories thus far with a 3.00 gaa and 0.900 save %.  Lasse Peteresen has been between the pipes both nights for Spokane with a 4.08 gaa and 0.843 save %.

Victoria is 1 for 5 on the power play, while Spokane is 1 for 6 in the series.

During the regular season, the Royals were 14 over .500 on the road (24 wins), and are riding a 7 game road win streak.  The Chiefs were 5 over .500 at home (19 wins).

Puck drop 7:05 both nights.

-       Marlon Martens

Series Schedule:

Tuesday, March 29th – Victoria @ Spokane – 7:05 p.m.

Wednesday, March 30th – Victoria @ Spokane – 7:05 p.m.

Friday, April 1st – Spokane @ Victoria – 7:05 p.m. (if necessary)

Sunday, April 3rd – Victoria @ Spokane – 5:05 p.m. (if necessary)

Tuesday, April 5th – Spokane @ Victoria – 7:05 p.m. (if necessary)

Previous Meetings This Season

Spokane 3 @ Victoria 4 (Mar 26 2016) Final Spokane 3 @ Victoria 5 (Mar 25 2016) Final

How the 2 teams match up

	Spokane	Victoria
Team Record	0-2-0-0 -- 0 points	2-0-0-0 -- 4 points
Past 10 Games	0-2-0-0	2-0-0-0
Streak	0-2-0-0	2-0-0-0
Last Game	4-3 L @ Victoria (Mar 26 2016) Final	4-3 W vs Spokane (Mar 26 2016) Final
Home Record	0-0-0-0	2-0-0-0
Away Record	0-2-0-0	0-0-0-0
GF	6	9
GA	9	6
PP (Overall)	(1/6) 16.7%	(1/5) 20.0%
PP (Home)	(0/0) %	(1/5) 20.0%
PP (Away)	(1/6) 16.7%	(0/0) %
PK (Overall)	(1/5) 80.0%	(1/6) 83.3%
PK (Home)	(0/0) %	(1/6) 83.3%
PK (Away)	(1/5) 80.0%	(0/0) %
PP vs. Opp.	(1/6) 16.7%	(1/5) 20%
PK vs. Opp.	(1/5) 80%	(1/6) 83.3%
Leading Rookie	Ostir (1-0-1)	Pachal (0-1-1)
Most PIM	Fiala - 4	Gagnon - 7
Team PIM/GM	7.0/Game	7.5/Game
Leading Scorers	Cardiff (2-0-2)	Bobylev (0-6-6)
	Elynuik (2-0-2)	Soy (3-0-3)
	Yamamoto (1-1-2)	Walker (2-1-3)
	Fram (0-2-2)	Hicketts (1-2-3)
	Ostir (1-0-1)	Dmytriw (1-1-2)
Last 5 Games	4-3 L @ Victoria (Mar 26 2016) Final	4-3 W vs Spokane (Mar 26 2016) Final
	5-3 L @ Victoria (Mar 25 2016) Final	5-3 W vs Spokane (Mar 25 2016) Final
Leading After 1st	0-0-0-0	2-0-0-0
Leading After 2nd	0-0-0-0	2-0-0-0
Tied After 1st	0-0-0-0	0-0-0-0
Tied After 2nd	0-0-0-0	0-0-0-0
Trailing After 1st	0-2-0-0	0-0-0-0
Trailing After 2nd	0-2-0-0	0-0-0-0
Out Shooting Opponents	0-1-0-0	1-0-0-0
Out Shot by Opponents	0-1-0-0	1-0-0-0
1-Goal Games	0-1-0-0	1-0-0-0
2-Goal Games	0-1-0-0	1-0-0-0
3-Goal Games	0-0-0-0	0-0-0-0

Bobylev: Player Of The Week

ROYALS’ VLADIMIR BOBYLEV NAMED WHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Victoria forward records six points in two games.

For Immediate Release

Monday, March 28, 2016

Victoria, BC- The Western Hockey League (WHL) today announced that Victoria Royals’ forward Vladimir Bobylev has been named the WHL Player of the Week.

Bobylev, a native of Lipetsk, Russia tallied six points (6a) in the Royals’ first two playoff games vs. the Spokane Chiefs this past weekend.

The 6-2, 202 lb Bobylev leads the league in playoff scoring. In his last 10 games including the regular season, Bobylev has recorded six goals and 16 assists for 22 points.

Bobylev is the current Playoff scoring leader with 6 assists.

The 1997-born forward is in his first season with the club. In 72 regular season games with Victoria, Bobylev finished fifth in team scoring with 67 points (28g-39a).

In 124 career regular season games with Victoria and the Vancouver Giants (2014-15) Bobylev has registered 31 goals and 45 assists.

Game 3 and 4 of the best-of-seven series between the Royals and Chiefs is scheduled for tomorrow and Wednesday with puck drop at 7:05 p.m. for both contests.

Victoria’s next home game in this series (if necessary) will be Friday, April 1^st with puck drop scheduled at 7:05 p.m. Single game tickets are on sale at the Select Your Tickets Box Office located at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, over the phone at 250-220-7777 or online at www.selectyourtickets.com.

Recap: SPK 3 - VIC 4 (Sat. Mar.26.2016)

Jack Walker scored twice and Vladimir Bobylev had 3 assists as the Victoria Royals edged the visiting Spokane Chiefs 4-3 Saturday night to take a 2-0 best of seven playoff series lead.

Walker broke a 2-2 second period draw, and Tyler Soy (3^rd) added insurance in the third, before Dominic Zwerger brought the Chiefs to within one with the goalie pulled.

“We found a way to get it done tonight,” said Royals Head Coach Dave Lowry,

“They’re going to be hard fought games, close games, one goal games.  We have to make sure we continue to find a way.”

The Royals were without a pair of veteran defenseman, Joe Hicketts and Ryan Gagnon. 

“We need different guys to step up, and as soon as we start relying on one or two guys we’re in trouble.  We’ve had really good balance, good depth throughout, good contributions from everybody, and we look forward to continuing that.”

While there was no word on Hicketts absence, the club was still waiting to hear from the WHL on the length of suspension for Gagnon after receiving a charging major and game misconduct in Game 1.

Jordan Wharrie was inserted into the line up bringing 11 games of past playoff experience with the Everett Silvertips, while Brayden Pachal played his first WHL playoff game and had an assist.  Rookie Scott Walford stepped up his game, and also helped out on the power play.

“I thought it was outstanding,” said Lowry on the younger defense coming through,

“When you have a 16 year old (Walford) as probably your best defenseman, your most physical, it bodes well moving forward…Pachal came into tonight and didn’t miss a beat.”

Vollrath celebrates the win with teammates

Spokane out shot Victoria 33-21, snapping the Royals stretch of 20 games in which they put more pucks on goal than the opposition.

Coleman Vollrath earned back to back wins, while Lasse Petersen took a second consecutive loss.

Victoria was 0 for 2 on the power play, while Spokane went 0 for 1.

Jacob Cardiff opened the scoring for the Chiefs, but Walker and Jared Dmytriw gave the Royals a 2-1 lead going into the second.

Hudson Elynuik tied the game at 2 early in the middle frame, for his 2^nd of the post season.

The line of Walker, Soy (1g) and Bobylev connected again for 6 points, giving them a combined 12 in the two games.

“My linemates and I are clicking,” said Soy who had 46 goals to lead the club in the regular season, a Royals record.

“Dave (Lowry) has been instilling in us all season long to play with speed, and play as fast as we can.  It’s something that we try to do every night.”

Victoria has now won 15 straight games, and 15 consecutive at home. 

The Royals face the Chiefs in Spokane Tuesday and Wednesday. 

The Chiefs are 5 over .500 at home (19-14-2-1), while the Royals have 24 road victories (24-10-2-0), and are riding a 7 game win streak off the Island.

“We’ve always had good game there,” said Lowry,

“The one challenge, and they use it to their advantage is, the benches are reversed.  So you have a long change for two periods instead of one.”

Puck drop both nights at 7:05 on The Zone @ 91.3 fm.

- Marlon Martens

Spokane Chiefs 3 at Victoria Royals 4 - Status: Final
Saturday, March 26, 2016 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC

Spokane 1 1 1 - 3
Victoria 2 1 1 - 4

1st Period-

1, Spokane, Cardiff 1 (Kopeck, Fram), 9:56.

2, Victoria, Walker 1 (Bobylev, Ibragimov), 12:32. 3, Victoria, Dmytriw 1 (Fisher, Nagy), 14:08.

Penalties-No Penalties

2nd Period-

4, Spokane, Elynuik 2 (Ka. Yamamoto, Bechtold), 4:12.

5, Victoria, Walker 2 (Bobylev, Ibragimov), 17:27.

Penalties-Fram Spo (holding), 0:55; Wharrie Vic (tripping), 8:42; Helgesen Spo (hooking), 12:07; Bechtold Spo (roughing), 19:58; Forsberg Vic (roughing), 19:58.

3rd Period-

6, Victoria, Soy 3 (Bobylev, Pachal), 6:31.

7, Spokane, Zwerger 1 (Ke. Yamamoto, Helgesen), 17:54.

Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-

Spokane 10-11-12-33.

Victoria 12-3-6-21.

Power Play Opportunities-

Spokane 0 / 1;

Victoria 0 / 2.

Goalies-

Spokane, Petersen 0-2-0-0 (21 shots-17 saves).

Victoria, Vollrath 2-0-0-0 (33 shots-30 saves).

A-6,025
Referees-Reid Anderson (53), Mark Pearce (5).
Linesmen-Jeff MacAdams, Bevan Mills (98).