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WHL Victoria Royals

Royals Meet Giants in a Home-And-Home Series

February 10, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Victoria Royals News Release


Victoria Royals defenceman Kalem Parker
Victoria Royals defenceman Kalem Parker
(Victoria Royals)

Victoria, B.C. - The Victoria Royals will renew their rivalry against the Vancouver Giants this weekend with a home-and-home set beginning Friday night at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre for Pink in the Rink presented by Mayfair Optometric.

The game is one of the club's longest-running theme nights, generating over $350,000 in funds towards organizations supporting cancer treatment and research since its inception in 2009.

Victoria (14-32-4-1) will hope for an extra boost from the home crowd after beginning the month with a trio of close defeats at the hands of the Prince George Cougars and Kamloops Blazers last weekend.

Vancouver (19-24-4-2) currently holds a 5-1 advantage in the season series with Victoria, earning a 4-3 shootout victory in their most recent meeting back on Dec. 30.

Royals General Manager and Head Coach Dan Price expects to get the Giants best punch this weekend:

"The same thing we always get," said Price. "They're going to have the puck in the zone, they're going to try to put it behind our defence, they're going to try to forecheck, they're going to play in straight lines, they're going to be very physical...Michael [Dyck, Vancouver Giants Head Coach] does a great job getting his team ready and [Vancouver Goaltender Jesper] Vikman is a problem you have to solve every time you play him, so I don't think there will be any surprises...These are always tough BC Division rivalry games."

Another challenge the Royals will have to contend with this weekend is the absence of several key players from their lineup, including leading-scorer Jake Poole, who remains listed as week-to-week with an upper body injury suffered against Prince George last weekend.

Forward Alex Thacker is one player who could fill some holes at the top of the lineup. The 20-year-old forward has stood out as one of the top offensive drivers for the team this season and has stepped-up his play in recent weeks, recording nine points (one goal, eight assists) over his last eight contests. Thacker has totaled 29 points on seven goals and 22 assists this season.

Goaltender Braden Holt is expected to resume his starting role between the pipes for Victoria this weekend. The 19-year-old has already enjoyed some success against the Giants this year, recording a 35-save shutout in a 3-0 win over Vancouver in his first game with the Royals back on Dec. 28.

Holt has posted a 7-5-1-0 record with a 3.54 goals against average (GAA) and a .894 save percentage (SV%) with two shutouts in 14 games with Victoria this season.

Nicholas Cristiano will also be available for backup duties for the Royals. The 18-year-old has recorded a 4-11-0-0 record with a 4.15 GAA and a .860 SV% in 20 total appearances in 2022-2023.

One of the biggest tasks for Victoria this weekend will be attempting to solve Vancouver goaltender Jesper Vikman, who remains one of the most consistent and reliable netminders in the WHL and has held Victoria to three goals or less in five of six meetings this year.

In-fact, the Stockholm, Sweden product has been a thorn in the side of the Royals since arriving in the league at the start of the 2021-2022 season, posting a 8-5-0-0 record with two shutouts in 13 starts against Victoria over his career.

In total, the 20-year-old has earned a 15-17-0-1 record with a 3.31 GAA and a .901 SV% in 35 games this season.

19-year-old goaltender Brett Mirwald provides a strong backup option for the Giants as well, posting 4-6-4-0 record with a 3.43 GAA and a .904 SV% in 18 appearances.

Friday is set to be a very special night at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre as the team holds their annual Pink in the Rink night, presented by Mayfair Optometric. The team will wear special pink and blue uniforms which will be auctioned off following the game, with all proceeds going towards benefiting the BC Cancer Foundation.

The auction for the jerseys is currently open and bids will be accepted until Friday, February 17 at 11:45 pm PST at the following link.

The team has also pledged to donate $1 from every ticket sold towards the Foundation. Tickets for the game will cost just $15 and are available for purchase at the following link.

The game is set to begin at 7:05 pm on Friday, Feb. 10 at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria.

Players to watch:

Victoria:

#29 Teague Patton (F) - 51 GP, 37 PTS (11 G, 26 A)

#28 Riley Gannon (F) - 51 GP, 31 PTS (15 G, 16 A)

#8 Kalem Parker (D) - 51 GP, 29 PTS (6 G, 23 A)

Vancouver:

#8 Ty Thorpe (F) - 48 GP, 53 PTS (26 G, 27 A)

#47 Mazden Leslie (D) - 49 GP, 36 PTS (8G, 28 A)

Follow the Royals on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, TikTok and visit victoriaroyals.com to find out more about ticket sales and to learn the latest news about the team.

Get Your Ticket Packs Now

Multiple ticket packages are available for purchase, including a Family Pack, Group Pack, VictoriaNow Family Section, Vizzy Section and Molson Ice Seats. Call our ticket office at 250-220-7889, send an email to tickets@victoriaroyals.com or visit our website to learn more victoriaroyals.com/ticket-promos.

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Images from this story

Victoria Royals defenceman Kalem Parker
Victoria Royals defenceman Kalem Parker
   



Western Hockey League Stories from February 10, 2023


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