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WHL Victoria Royals

Royals' Late Push Falls Short in 3-2 Loss to Giants

December 28, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Victoria Royals News Release


Victoria Royals' Alex Thacker on game night
Victoria Royals' Alex Thacker on game night
(Victoria Royals)

Langley, BC - Forward Riley Gannon extended his goal streak to three games in a 3-2 loss to the Vancouver Giants at the Langley Events Centre on Tuesday.

The marker brought his total to nine goals on the season, which ranks second on the team and gives him 19 total points in 34 games this year.

The Royals found themselves down 3-0 entering the third period on Tuesday, but would use goals by Gannon and forward Alex Thacker to cut their opponent's lead to one late in the game.

While they would ultimately fail to tie the game late in regulation, Victoria Head Coach Dan Price believes his team can carry their third period momentum into tomorrow's rematch:

"I felt like we ran out of time," said Coach Price after the game. "It felt like a goal was coming there and we just needed a minute of two more, but the message to the team is, when you play that well you're going to win most nights...If we just reset and play same way tomorrow night, that's a good win on the road and we can come back and get ready for Friday."

Goaltender Nicholas Cristiano also had a strong game for the Royals, stopping 16 of 19 shots against and holding the Giants without a goal for the final period and a half.

Forward Jaden Lipinski was the top scorer in the win for Vancouver, scoring the eventual game-winner and adding one assist to finish with two points.

The Giants also benefited from a solid night from goaltender Jesper Vikman who stopped all but two of the 36 shots he faced.

Vancouver (13-15-4-2) forward Ty Halaburda (11) would open the scoring for the home team, striking at the 7:58 mark of the first to make it 1-0.

The Giants would add to their lead in the second, making it 2-0 on a goal by forward Ty Thorpe (19) at 8:43 of the frame before forward Jaden Lipinski (13) scored at the 13:01 mark to open up a 3-0 advantage headed into the final period.

Victoria (7-24-3-0) forward Riley Gannon (9) would break the Vancouver shutout with an unassisted goal at the 10:18 mark, bringing the score to 3-1 as the game entered its final moments.

The Royals comeback bid would continue late in the frame as forward Alex Thacker (6) struck at 19:03 of the frame to cut the Giants lead to just one, with forward Jake Poole counting the lone assist.

However, time would run out on the Royals as they pushed for the late equalizer and the Giants would escape with the slim 3-2 victory following the final buzzer.

Vancouver and Victoria will face off for the second of three time this week on Wednesday night, where puck-drop is set for 7 pm.

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Images from this story

Victoria Royals' Alex Thacker on game night
Victoria Royals' Alex Thacker on game night
   



Western Hockey League Stories from December 28, 2022


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