Preview: Everett at Victoria

The Victoria Royals (17-31-2-4) open a five game homestand with a pair against the visiting Everett Silvertips (12-31-1-8) Tuesday and Wednesday at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, with the pregame show at 6:45 on the Zone @ 91.3.

SEASON SERIES:  Tonight is the first of four meetings between the Royals and the Silvertips.  Last season, the Chilliwack Bruins were (2-1-1-0) versus Everett, and an even .500 over the last 5 seasons.

LAST GAMES:  Victoria is returning home from a 2 game US road swing, picking up a point in a 6-5 shoot out loss in Spokane on Friday.  The Royals held a 2-0 lead in the second in Tri City, but ultimately fell 6-3 to the Americans Saturday and are now winless in 2.

The Silvertips had their 2 game winning streak snapped, falling 7-3 in Portland Friday evening.  Campbell River product Josh Caron picked up his first two assists as a Silvertip as they outshot the Winterhawks 32-31.  Everett went 0 for 7 on the powerplay while Portland went 3 for 3.  Everett won their previous 2 games on the road in Prince George.

STANDINGS:  Victoria is in 7th place in the West, 2 points up on Seattle, 6 up on Prince George, and 7 ahead of Everett.  They Royals have played two more games than the Thunderbirds, Cougars and Silvertips.  Victoria still has 4 games remaining against Prince George, none against Seattle, and all 4 against Everett.

Heading into tonight Victoria has 11 home games remaining and 7 on the road.

SPECIAL TEAMS: The Royals hot power play ranked 12th, was unable to capitalize on 6 chances on Saturday at Tri City, they were 5 for 12 over their last two heading into the contest.   Victoria’s perfect penalty killing streak lasted over three games going 10 for 10, but came to an end in the third period against the Americans. 

Everett’s power play ranked 13th, scored multiple goals six times in January and was held scoreless only four times, nearly 32% efficiency.

X FACTORS:  The Silvertips have taken the fewest shots, while giving up the most in the league.  They’ve scored the second fewest amount of goals, while the Royals have the 11th most.  The ‘Tips have allowed the 4th most goal against in the league.  Goal differential per period, (-17,-29,-28).

SHOOT OUT:  Everett has given up the extra point in 8 of 9 games, only scoring 6 times on 33 attempts.

WHO TO WATCH:  Jamie Crooks leads the Royals in scoring with 56 points.  He’s scored in 4 straight and has 11 points in his alst 8 games.  Ben Walker (2g 5a) is on a 4 game point streak, Brandon Magee (3g 3a) also has points in 4 straight.  Steven Hodges (3g 1a) and Hayden Rintoul (3a) have 3 game streaks going.

D Ryan Murray

For Everett:  D Ryan Murray represented Canada at the World Juniors, played at the Top Prospects game as the Captain for Team Cherry, and is ranked 3rd by central scouting among North American skaters for the upcoming NHL draft.  He has 20 points in 26 games. 

Josh Birkholtz leads the team in scoring with 44 points and has 12 in his last 11 games (7g 4a).  Ryan Harrison is second in scoring with 36 points in 50 games and has 22 points in his last 20.  Kohl Bauml has 5 multiple point games in his last 11 outings.


ISLANDERS:  D Josh Caron is from Campbell River, and D Lucas Grayson Port Hardy.

LEADING SCORERS:

Birkholz (24-20-44)
Harrison (13-23-36)
Winquist (12-18-30)
Bauml (13-15-28)
Fowlie (8-20-28)

Crooks (29-27-56)
Nelson (20-31-51)
Soudek (22-25-47)
Magee (18-22-40)
Rintoul (12-26-38)

IRON MEN:  Four Royals have played in all 54 games this season, Hayden Rintoul, Jamie Crooks, Steven Hodges and Mike Forsyth.

DRAFTED/NHL SIGNED PLAYERS: For Victoria: D Tyler Stahl (Carolina, 6th rd 2010), D Jordan Fransoo (Ottawa, 7th rd 2011).  For Everett: Josh Birkholz, (Florida Panthers, 2009), Ryan Harrison, (Vancouver Canucks, F/A), Kent Simpson, (Chicago Blackhawks, 2010).

TOP PROSPECTS:  Central Scoutings mid-term rankings of North American players positions Victoria’s Steven Hodges (55), and Logan Nelson (108).  For Everett: D Ryan Murray (3), D Nick Walters (68).

DOWN THE STRETCH (18 games):
Victoria:  Home Games (11), Away (7)
Opposition: Prince George x 4, Everett x 4, Calgary x 1, Van x 3, Spok x 2, Kelowna x 1, Portland x 2, Kamloops x 1

INJURIES:

For Victoria:
#7, Tyler Stahl, Upper body, indefinite.

For Everett:
#9, J.T Barnett, Lower body, week to week
#19, Manraj Hayer, Upper body, day to day
#24, Zach McPhee, Upper body, 7-10 days
Suspension TBD:  Brennan Yadlowski

Recap: VIC 3 - TRI 6

Dakota Conroy scraps Lukas Walter in a 6-3 loss in Tri City

#14 Zane Jones earned 'Hit of the Night'

The Tri City Americans doubled up the Victoria Royals 6-3 Saturday night in Kennewick Washington, and take the season series 3 games to 1.

Victoria held a 2-0 lead in the second before the Americans scored three times before the period was out, and added three more in the third.  The Royals got a single late to cut the lead in half but ultimately fell to the #5 ranked team in the CHL.

When asked about the turning point, Assistant coach Ben Cooper brought up missed chances when the Royals led 2-0 in the second, “Logan Nelson had a breakaway and then we had 3 or 4 scoring chances on one shift and that would of made it three nothing, it would have been a totally different game, we couldn’t bury and they got the momentum back…they’re such a run and gun team with so much fire power, they get one and they get some momentum and it’s tough to stop.”

The two benches during a Time-Out

Jared Rathjen stopped all seven shots he faced in relief of Keith Hamilton, who stopped 30 of 36 shots in 45 minutes of work.  Ty Rimmer made 32 saves for his 21st win.  Final shots 43-35 for the Americans.

The Royals perfect penalty killing streak lasted over three games but came to an end in the third period.  Victoria had gone 10 for 10, and ended the night killing 4 of 5.  “We put a real big emphasis on blocking shots lately and guys are starting to take more pride in that area, so we’re pretty happy with that and penalty kill’s been better of late, little bit passive at times, but it gave us a chance to win with the first few penalty kills in that game.”  Said Cooper.

The Royals hot power play was unable to capitalize on 6 chances, twice with a two man advantage. According to Cooper, “It just wasn’t clicking tonight, we did get some shots, Rimmer’s a good goalie…didn’t think we did a good enough job of really getting on top of him and creating second and third chances from those shots.”  They were 5 for 12 over their last two contest.

Victoria got goals from Jamie Crooks (29th), Brandon Magee (18th), and Jesse Zgraggen (2nd).  Brendan Shinniman scored the game wining goal at 17:56 of the second and was named number one star on a three point effort (1g 2a).  Adam Hughesman scored back to back goals in the third, adding an assist giving him 80 points.  North Sannich product Sam Grist (1g 1a), Connor Rankin (2a) and Patrick Holland (2a) all had two point efforts.

The Royals with 40 points are 7th in the West, 2 up on Seattle, and 6 ahead of Prince George.  They’ll entertain the 10th place Everett Silvertips for the first time Tuesday and Wednesday.

Ben Cooper, Royals assistant coach with post game thoughts:
 
After a scoreless opening period, Jamie Crooks would bury a rebound to notch his 29th at the 1:51 mark of the second.  Brandon Magee added his 18th of the season going five hole on Rimmer at the 10:13 mark to give the Royals a 2-0 lead.  The Americans would respond with three unanswered, kicked off by North Saanich product Sam Grist’s 2nd of the season.  Tri City would add two more just 23 seconds apart by Zachery Yuen and Brendan Shinniman, to take a 3-2 lead to the third.

The Americans got three more in the third, the first by Jesse Mychan just 43 seconds in.  Adam Hughesman scored a pair 3 minutes and 3 seconds apart, the later on the power play.  Jesse Zgraggen was credited with the final goal of the game at the 18:29 mark.  The contest ended with a fight between Dakota Conroy and Lukas Walter.

Victoria Royals 3 at Tri-City Americans 6 - Status: End of Game
Saturday, February 4, 2012 - Toyota Center - Kennewick, WA

Victoria 0 2 1 - 3
Tri-City 0 3 3 - 6

1st Period- No Scoring.

Penalties-Nelson Vic (slashing), 1:24; Holland T.c (checking from behind), 4:55; Kanzig Vic (checking from behind), 8:34; Grist T.c (delay of game), 14:32; Ryckman T.c (tripping), 15:31.

2nd Period-
1, Victoria, Crooks 29 (Hodges, Rintoul), 1:51.
2, Victoria, Magee 18 (Walker), 10:13.
3, Tri-City, Grist 2 (Shinnimin, Hughesman), 11:59.
4, Tri-City, Yuen 8 (Feser), 17:33.
5, Tri-City, Shinnimin 31 (Grist, Holland), 17:56.

Penalties-Hodges Vic (tripping), 5:28; Topping T.c (cross checking), 13:06; Ryckman T.c (butt-ending, butt-ending), 14:44; Pilton Vic (interference), 16:13.

3rd Period-
6, Tri-City, Mychan 8   0:43.
7, Tri-City, Hughesman 30 (Rankin, Shinnimin), 2:39.
8, Tri-City, Hughesman 31 (Rankin, Holland), 5:42 (PP).
9, Victoria, Zgraggen 2 (Cote, Kralik), 18:29.

Penalties-Zgraggen Vic (slashing), 4:09; Conroy Vic (major-fighting), 20:00; Walter T.c (major-fighting), 20:00.

Shots on Goal-
Victoria 13-15-7-35.
Tri-City 15-14-14-43.

Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 0 / 6; Tri-City 1 / 5.

Goalies-Victoria,
Hamilton 16-25-1-4 (36 shots-30 saves);
Rathjen 0-4-1-0 (7 shots-7 saves).
Tri-City, Rimmer 20-8-0-1 (35 shots-32 saves).

A-4,778
Referees-Andy Thiessen (11), Jeff Ingram (82).
Linesmen-Jason Michelbook (112), Trevor Shively (119).

Preview: Victoria at Tri City

Eric Comrie Pink in the Rink by John Allen

The Victoria Royals (17-30-2-4, 40 pts) wrap up a 2 game U.S. road trip against the Americans in Tri City (36-12-1-1, 74 pts) Saturday night.

LAST GAME: The Royals earned a point after clawing back from a 3 goal deficit in a 6-5 shoot out loss in Spokane Friday.  Robin Soudek had a 3 point night, while Steven Hodges’ 2 goals earned him first star honours.  The Royals outshot the Chiefs 29-26.  Victoria has now earned points in 4 of their last 7.

The Americans snapped a 2 game slide with a 4-1 win against the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds Friday night.  Tri City took a 2-1 lead to the third period, and added a pair on empty net goals by Justin Feser to seal the win.  Patrick Holland had three assists while Eric Comrie stopped 21 shots. The Americans have not lost more than two in a row all season. Seattle lost their 21st consecutive game at the Toyota Center.

SERIES:  After winning in Tri City 5-4 on October 25th, Victoria dropped a pair at home to the Americans by scores of 6-2 and 5-3 on December 6th, and 7th respectively.  Tri City has only lost 3 regulation games on home ice, one to Victoria.  The Royals have have a chance to even the series tonight.

STANDINGS:  The Royals with 40 points are 7th in the West, 2 points up on 8th place Seattle, and 6 ahead of Prince George.  The Thunderbirds have 3 in hand, while the Cougars have 2. 

With a league leading .740 winning percentage, the Americans are 2nd overall with 74 points, 2 back of the West leading Blazers, but have 2 games in hand.  Tri City was ranked 5th in the CHL this week and have Portland sniffing at their heels with just a 3 point cushion.
  
WHO TO WATCH:  Jamie Crooks leads the team in scoring with 55 points, has goals in three straight and 10 points in his last 7 outings.  Ben Walker has 6 points in his last 3 games (2g 4a), while Brandon Magee 5 points in 3 (2g 3a).  Steven Hodges has 3 goals in his last 2 games.  Logan Nelson is 2nd in rookie scoring with 51 points and has 3 assists in his last 2 games.  Robin Soudek has 4 points in his last 2 (1g 3a).

Jamie Crooks on Ty Rimmer

For Tri City, Adam Hughesman and Brendan Shinnimin are 6th and 7th in scoring with 77 and 76 points respectively. Justin Feser with 57 points, has reached the 100-goal mark for his WHL career.  Patrick Holland is 9th with 69 points and 2nd in league assists with 49, Hughesman has 48.  D Zachery Yuen is tops in the leaue in plus minus with a +34.  G Ty Rimmer leads the league in three departments, goals against average (2.26), save percentage (92.7), and 5 shut outs.

MORE STATS: Tri-City has now recorded 20 plus home wins in six consecutive seasons.  They’ve allowed the fewest goals against in the league, while boasting the number one penatly kill.  They’ve scored the 4th most goals, and have out scored their opposition by 29 goals in both the second and third period.
 
The Royals haven’t allowed a goal while short handed in their last 3 games (7 for 7).  The power play struck 3 times on 7 opportunities in Spokane Friday night, and is now 5 for 12 in their last 2.

After tonight Victoria only plays 7 more times on the road and have 11 remaining at home.  They open a 5 game stand on the Island Tuesday and Wednesday against the 10th place Everett Silvertips.

TOP SCORERS:
Crooks (28-27-55)
Nelson (20-31-51)
Soudek (22-25-47)
Magee (17-22-39)
Rintoul (12-25-37)

Hughesman (29-48-77)
Shinnimin (30-46-76)
Holland (20-49-69)
Feser (26-31-57)
Messier (16-20-36)

IRON MEN:  Four Royals have played in all 53 games this season, Hayden Rintoul, Jamie Crooks, Steven Hodges and Mike Forsyth.

DRAFTED/NHL SIGNED PLAYERS: For Victoria: D Tyler Stahl (Carolina, 6th rd 2010), D Jordan Fransoo (Ottawa, 7th rd 2011).  For Tri City: Zachary Yuen (WPG ’11), Patrick Holland (CGY ’10).

TOP PROSPECTS:  Central Scoutings mid-term rankings of North American players positions Victoria’s Steven Hodges (55), and Logan Nelson (108).  For Tri City:  Michal Plutnar (84).

DOWN THE STRETCH (19 games):
Victoria:  Home Games (11), Away (8)
Opposition: Prince George x 4, Everett x 4, Calgary x 1, Van x 3, Spok x 2, Kelowna x 1, Tri x 1, Portland x 2, Kamloops x 1

INJURIES:

For Victoria:
#7, Tyler Stahl, Upper body, indefinite.

For Tri City:
#18, Mason Wilgosh, Lower body, week to week
#21, Marcus Messier, Upper body, day to day

Recap: VIC 5 - SPOK 6 SOL

Pregame Ceremony in Spokane

#11 Steven Hodges had 2 goals at Spokane

The Victoria Royals clawed back from a 3 goal deficit to pick up a point on the road in Spokane Friday night, falling 6-5 in a shoot out to the Chiefs.

Mitch Holmberg scored the shoot out winner, after Robin Soudek tied the game with 35 seconds left.  The Royals held leads of 1-0 and 2-1, followed by 4 unanswered by the Chiefs, but came back with 3 straight to earn an important point in the standings.

Victoria out shot a stingy Spokane club 29-26 on the night.

Eric Williams earned his 13th win of the season and first in shoot out with a 24 save performance.  Keith Hamilton drops to 3-4 in shoot outs, but stopped all 8 shots he faced coming in relief of Jared Rathjen (12 saves) at the 9:01 mark of the second.

Steven Hodges was the number star with a 2 goal effort.  Robin Soudek had a three point night (1g 2a), while Logan Nelson (2nd in Rookie Scoring) and Ben Walker had a pair of helpers each.  For Spokane, Dominik Uher scored a goal and added two helpers, while Liam Steward had a goal and an assist. 
 
The Royals power play struck 3 times of 7 opportunities, while giving up one shorthanded goal.  They didn’t allow the Chiefs a chance with the man advantage until the third and once overtime, stopping both.  Victoria has killed off every penalty over the course of the last three games (7 for 7).

The season series sits at (0-1-0-1) with the Royals entertaing the Chiefs in Victoria for a pair February 28th and 29th.

The Royals gained a point in the standings as the Cougars, Thunderbirds and Silvertips all lost in regulation.  Victoria is in 7th, 2 points up on Seattle, and 6 ahead of Prince George.

Assistant Coach of the Royals, Enio Sacilotto commented after the game:

 
Up next the final meeting of the season against the Americans in Tri City Saturday night (1-2).  Then they’ll return to the Island for a 5 game home stand to meet Everett twice, Calgary a week later and Prince George for a pair.

The Chiefs celebrate the shoot out win 6-5.

Hodges opened the scoring with his 16th, collecting a Logan Nelson rebound and firing it top corner at the 4 minute mark.  Dominik Uher tied it with a short handed marker at 11:23, but the Royals retook the lead on the same power play 35 seconds later as Jamie Crooks roofed a shot glove side for his 28th of the year.  The Chiefs would respond again ans Mitch Holmberg fired a shot low glove side at 14:42. 

Jared Rathjen made some crucial saves on Todd Fiddler on a 2 on 1, and on Dylan Walchuk in alone to keep the game tied at 2 after 20 minutes.  The first also saw a fight between Jesse Zgraggen and Darren Kramer after Zgraggen’s huge hit on Marek Kalus.

The Royals line up in the pregame ceremony.

Spokane would add three straight in the second in the span of 4 minutes and 40 seconds, courtesy of Cole Wedman’s first in the WHL at 4:21, followed by Liam Stewart at 6:47 and Marek Kalus at 9:01.  Jared Rathjen would then be replaced by Keith Hamilton after making 12 saves on 17 shots.  Victoria’s power play would strike again before the period was out, with Hodges second of the night at 16:09.

Trailing 5-3 going into the third Keith Hamilton stopped Steven Kuhn on a breakaway, drawing a penalty shot.  Hamilton forced Kuhn to shoot wide and it cued a Royals comeback.  With under 4 minutes left Brandon Magee went five hole on Williams to bring Victoria to within one.  With the goaltender pulled and on the power play, Robin Soudek fired home his 22nd with 35 seconds left to tie the game at 5. 

In overtime, the Royals killed off a power play sending the contest to a shoot out.  Blake Gal and Mitch Holberg scored, while Ben Walker replied for Victoria as Soudek and Nelson missed.  6-5 shoot out final for Spokane.

Victoria Royals 5 at Spokane Chiefs 6 (SO) - Status: End of Game SO
Friday, February 3, 2012 - Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena

Victoria 2 1 2 0 - 5
Spokane 2 3 0 0 - 6

1st Period-
1, Victoria, Hodges 16 (Nelson), 4:00.
2, Spokane, Uher 22 (Stewart), 11:23 (SH).
3, Victoria, Crooks 28 (Nelson), 11:58 (PP).
4, Spokane, Holmberg 20 (Uher, Walchuk), 14:42.

Penalties-Uher Spo (delay of game), 6:24; Fram Spo (inter. on goaltender), 11:13; Zgraggen Vic (major-fighting), 13:00; Kramer Spo (major-fighting), 13:00; Gal Spo (hooking), 19:05.

2nd Period-
5, Spokane, Wedman 1 (Aviani), 4:21.
6, Spokane, Stewart 7   6:47.
7, Spokane, Kalus 13 (Uher, Vandane), 9:01.
8, Victoria, Hodges 17 (Soudek, Rintoul), 16:09 (PP).

Penalties-Kichton Spo (delay of game), 11:19; Holmberg Spo (high sticking), 16:03.

3rd Period-
9, Victoria, Magee 17 (Walker, Soudek), 16:46.
10, Victoria, Soudek 22 (Walker), 19:25.

Penalties-Walker Vic (kneeing), 1:55; Uher Spo (delay of game), 8:24; Kuhn Spo (hooking), 17:55.

OT Period-
No Scoring.

Penalties-Soudek Vic (tripping), 2:56.

Shootout –
Victoria 1 (Soudek NG, Walker G, Nelson NG),
Spokane 2 (Gal G, Walchuk NG, Holmberg G).

Shots on Goal-
Victoria 12-9-2-0-0-23.
Spokane 12-6-4-3-1-26.

Power Play-
Victoria 2 / 7;
Spokane 0 / 2.

Goalies-
Victoria,
Rathjen 0-4-1-0 (17 shots-12 saves);
Hamilton 16-25-1-3 (8 shots-8 saves).
Spokane,
Williams 12-17-3-2 (23 shots-18 saves).

A-7,709
Referees-Adam Griffiths (36), Trevor Hanson (19).
Linesmen-Jason Cramer (122), Bevan Mills (98).

Preview: Victoria at Spokane

The Victoria Royals (17-30-2-3) are on the road in Spokane to take on the Chiefs (28-15-4-3) in just their second of four meetings of the season.  Pregame show starts at 6:45 on Friday night on The Zone at 91.3 FM.

LAST MEETING: Victoria dropped a 6-1 decision in Spokane back on October 26th.  Steven Hodges scored the lone goal for the Royals who trailed 4-1 after 20 minutes. Marek Kalus scored twice for the Chiefs.  Victoria was outshot 33-13 in Jared Rathjen’s first career start.

LAST GAME: The Royals earned a home split against the Prince George Cougars Tuesday and Wednesday.  After a 4-2 loss, the Royals responded with a commanding 5-1 victory, holding the Cougars to a season low 21 shots.  Ben Walker had 2 goals and assists in the win, while Brandon Magee added 3 helpers to take a 3-1 season series lead.  Victoria has now won three of their last six games.

The Chiefs had their 2 game win streak snapped with a 4-1 loss in Kamloops Wednesday.  Tied at one going into the third, the Blazers scored 3 unanswered. Spokane has won six of their last eight (6-1-1), and collected points in seven of eight.

Ben Walker celebrates a 3 point performance in win over PG

STANDINGS: Victoria moves into 7th in the West, one point up on Seattle who has 3 in hand, and 5 up on Prince George who’s played 2 fewer games.

Spokane is in dog fight with Vancouver for 4th in the West, just 2 points up of the Giants and 6 back of the Winterhawks.

WHO TO WATCH:  The Royals are led in scoring by Jamie Crooks with 53 points, he has 9 points in his last 6 games (4g 5a) and goals in back to back games.  Ben Walker is coming off a 2 goal and assist performance for 4 points in his last two (2g, 2a).  Brandon Magee also has 4 points in his last two games (1g 3a).  Logan Nelson is third in rookie scoring with 49 points, 2 off the leader Tim Bozon.

The Chiefs are led in scoring by defenseman Brenden Kichton with 52 points, most by a defenseman in the league.  F Mitch Holmberg is on a 4 game assist streak (0g 4a), F Dylan Walchuck has 5 points in his 4 game streak (1g 4a), and F Dominik Uher is also on a 4 game point streak (5g, 2a).  F Darren Kramer is third in the league in penalty minutes (144), and tops in majors (20).

Both teams have 6 players with 30 or more points, and 3 with over 40.

STATS: Spokane is tough to play against at home with a 13 over .500 record (18-5-1-1), they’re even on the road (10-10-3-2).  They’ve allowed the fewest shots against on average in the league, while putting up the third most.  The Chiefs have scored the 8th most goals for, while allowing the 7th fewest per game on average.  The power play is ranked 19th, and penalty killing is 8th while taking the 4th fewest penalty minutes on average.  Statistically, their first period is their weakest in goal differential, scoring one more goal than the opposition, in the second they’ve scored 15 more, and the third their strongest with 18. 

The Royals went 2 for 5 on the power play last game boosting it’s efficiency to 14th overall.  The penalty killing hasn’t allowed a goal over their last two games, yet ranked 20th.  Victoria has scored the 11th most goals per game on average, including 6 short handed tallies.

Up Next a final meeting in Tri City Saturday before beginning a 5 game home stand versus Everett Tuesday and Wednesday.

TOP SCORERS:

For Victoria:
Crooks (27-27-54)
Nelson (20-29-49)
Soudek (21-23-44)
Magee (16-22-38)
Rintoul (12-24-36)

For Spokane:
Kichton (11-41-52)
Uher (21-25-46)
Holmberg (19-24-43)
Kuhn (12-24-36)
Kramer (18-14-32)

DRAFTED/NHL SIGNED PLAYERS: For Victoria: D Tyler Stahl (Carolina, 6th rd 2010), D Jordan Fransoo (Ottawa, 7th rd 2011).  For Spokane: Brenden Kichton (NYI ’11), Dominik Uher (PITT ’11), Darren Kramer (OTT ’11)

TOP PROSPECTS:  Central Scoutings mid-term rankings of North American players positions Victoria’s Steven Hodges (55), and Logan Nelson (108).  For Spokane: Cole Wedman (142), and Reid Gow (185)

DOWN THE STRETCH:
Victoria:  Home Games (11), Away (9)
Opposition: Prince George x 4, Everett x 4, Calgary x 1, Van x 3, Spok x 3, Kelowna x 1, Tri x 1, Portland x 2, Kamloops x 1

INJURIES:

For Victoria:
#7, Tyler Stahl, Upper body, indefinite.

For Spokane:
#18, Reid Gow, Upper body, 1 month+
#24, Cole Wedman, Upper body, day to day
#5, Tanner Mort, Upper body, week to week
Suspension: #23, Corbin Baldwin, 2 games for a check to the head in Kamloops.

Recap: PG 1 - VIC 5

#10 Ben Walker (2g 1a)

The Victoria Royals powered past the visiting Prince George Cougars 5-1 Wednesday night to earn a split in the 2 game home set. 

Keith Hamilton earned his 16th win with 20 stops, including robbing Greg Fraser on a 2 on 1 in the second, and stoning Carson Bolduc on a breakaway in the third.  Drew Owsley suffered his 27th defeat with 27 saves.

After Chase Witala opened the scoring on the Cougars first shot 3:45 into the first, Ben Walker would tie it with his 5th at 11:16.

In the middle frame, Walker would add his second of the night flipping it past Owsley for his 6th and a 2-1 lead.  The Royals would then capitalize twice on a 5 on 3 power play, with goals from Jamie Crooks (27th) and Dakota Conroy (7th) and earn a 4-1 lead heading into the final frame.

Steven Hodges tipped in his 15th at the 1:22 mark of the third as the Royals went on to out shoot the Cougars 32-21.

Victoria’s power play went 2 for 5, while holding Prince George scoreless on four attempts.

Brandon Magee chipped in with 3 assists.

Assistant Coach of the Royals Craig Didmon commented after the game:
 

Jamie Crooks' hit on Jarett Fontaine.

Victoria now leads the season series 3 games to 1, and will meet again for a pair in the Capital February 17th and 18th.

The win moves the Royals into 7th place in the West, one point up on Seattle and 5 ahead of the 9th place Cougars.  
 
Up next a U-S road trip with stops in Spokane Friday and Tri Cities on Saturday. 

The Royals next home game will be next Tuesday and Wednesday against the Everett Silvertips.

Prince George 1 0 0 - 1
Victoria 1 3 1 - 5

1st Period-
1, Prince George, Witala 3 (Fraser, Blidstrand), 3:45.
2, Victoria, Walker 5 (Fransoo, Magee), 11:16.

Penalties-Soudek Vic (roughing), 17:49.

2nd Period-
3, Victoria, Walker 6 (Soudek, Magee), 2:47.
4, Victoria, Crooks 27 (Rintoul, Magee), 14:07 (PP).
5, Victoria, Conroy 6 (Walker, Cote), 14:59 (PP).

Penalties-Soudek Vic (tripping), 0:13; Siwak P.g (tripping), 13:07; Asuchak P.g (cross checking), 13:26.

3rd Period-
6, Victoria, Hodges 15 (Habscheid, Nelson), 1:20.

Penalties-Bourke P.g (tripping), 3:30; Bourke P.g (checking from behind), 6:25; Carlson P.g (roughing), 6:25; Habscheid Vic (roughing), 6:25; Forsberg P.g (roughing, roughing), 8:43; Crooks Vic (roughing), 8:43; Asuchak P.g (holding), 10:05; Fransoo Vic (roughing), 10:05; Conroy Vic (slashing), 10:53; Habscheid Vic (hooking), 12:27; Carlson P.g (roughing), 20:00; Carroll Vic (roughing), 20:00.

Shots on Goal-
Prince George 9-6-6-21.
Victoria 11-10-11-32.

Power Play Opportunities-
Prince George 0 / 4;
Victoria 2 / 5.

Goalies-
Prince George, Owsley 15-27-0-1 (32 shots-27 saves).
Victoria, Hamilton 16-25-1-3 (21 shots-20 saves).

A-4,369

Referees-Pat Smith (12).
Linesmen-Chris Carlson (92), Kiel Murchison (46).

Stars-
1) Walker
2) Crooks
3) Hodges

Preview: PG at VIC

The Pregame show at 6:45 on The Zone www.thezone.fm

This evening, the Victoria Royals (16-30-2-3) look to avenge last night’s 4-2 loss to the Prince George Cougars (16-31-0-2) in their second meeting in two nights.

After Reid Jackson opened the scoring, the Royals replied with goals from Jamie Crooks (26th) in the first, and Brandon Magee (16th) in the second.  It was the only lead for Victoria as Prince George replied with 3 unanswered with Nanaimo's Greg Fraser and Dalton Siwak scoring in the second.  Swedish defenseman Ricard Blidstrand had his first as a Cougar, the lone tally in the third.  Troy Bourke, the Cougars leading scorer had 3 assists.

Drew Owsley made 30 saves for his 15th win, while Keith Hamilton suffered his 25th defeat, also with 30 stops. Both teams went 0 for 1 on the power play.

Marc Habscheid and the Royals during a Time Out vs PG.

Drew Owsley made 30 saves for his 15th win.

The Cougars notched their 500th win since relocating to Prince George after the 1993-94 season, snapping a 5 game losing streak.  It was a second consecutive home loss for the 8th place Royals, who are now only 3 points up on the Cougars, who have 2 games in hand.

Victoria leads the season series two games to one, and after tonight will meet four more times by February 25th.  Previously, Victoria won both games in Prince George, a 5-4 shoot out win September 30th, and 6-5 October 1st.

Prince George has won more games on the road (10), than at home (6).  Victoria is 3 under .500 at home with 9 victories.  The Cougars have the fewest goals and shots for, in the league.  Their power play has the lowest efficiency percentage, while the Royals is ranked 15th.  Prince George’s penalty killing is 12th best, yet they’ve taken the 2nd most penalties on average per game.

INJURY BUG:  Prince George has been hit with a rash of injuries, with 6 players out, plus 1 suspended.  Since the report F Greg Fraser, and D Reid Jackson have returned to the lineup.

ISLAND BOYS:  The Cougars boast two local players, F Greg Fraser from Nanaimo, and D Cody Carlson from Victoria who is second on the club in scoring with 30 points.

WIKI STAT:  The Cougars are the only team in Western Hockey League history to draft 2 brothers in the first round of the Western Hockey League Bantam Draft. Jesse Forsberg, a defenceman, was drafted 11th overall by the Cougars in 2008, and his younger brother Alex, a centerman, was taken first overall in 2010.

DRAFTED/NHL SIGNED PLAYERS: For Victoria: D Tyler Stahl (Carolina, 6th rd 2010), D Jordan Fransoo (Ottawa, 7th rd 2011).  For Prince George: D Ricard Blidstrand (7th PHI ’10).

TOP PROSPECTS:  Central Scoutings mid-term rankings of North American players positions Victoria’s Steven Hodges (55), and Logan Nelson (108).  For PG: Troy Bourke (107).

Leading Scorers:
Prince George:
Bourke (9-27-36)
Carlson (7-23-30)
Forsberg (11-18-29)
Asuchak (13-13-26)
Fraser (13-9-22)

Victoria:
Crooks (26-27-53)
Nelson (20-28-48)
Soudek (21-22-43)
Magee (16-19-35)
Rintoul (12-23-35)

DOWN THE STRETCH:
Victoria:  Home Games (12), Away (9)
Opposition: Prince George x 5, Everett x 4, Calgary x 1, Van x 3, Spok x 3, Kelowna x 1, Tri x 1, Portland x 2, Kamloops x 1

Prince George: Home (14) Away (9)
Opposition: Victoria x 5, Kelowna x 3, Seattle x 2, Red Deer x 1,
Edmonton x 2, Portland x 2, Medicine Hat x 2, Spokane x 2, Kam x 2, Tri x 2

INJURIES:

For Victoria:
#7, Tyler Stahl, Upper body, indefinite.

For PG:
#2, Dan Gibb, Upper body, day to day
#10, Brock Hirsche, Upper body, season ending
#11, John Odgers, Upper body, 6-8 weeks
#17, Caleb Belter, Upper body, day to day
#21, Shane Pilling, Upper body, day to day
#27, Alex Forsberg, Lower body, day to day
Suspensions: #26, Campbell Elynuik, one game remaining