WHL Victoria Royals

Royals Take Down Giants

Published on September 15, 2012 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Victoria Royals News Release


Victoria, BC - In a Saturday afternoon matinee at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, the Victoria Royals hosted the Vancouver Giants in the final game of the Royals' pre-season schedule. Victoria gave Patrik Polivka the start in net while Vancouver countered with Tyler Fuhr.

The Royals opened the scoring two minutes into the first period on a goal from Jamie Crooks. Austin Carroll collected a loose puck behind the Vancouver net and centered a pass for Crooks who snapped a wrist shot over the glove of Fuhr. Vancouver evened the score halfway through the frame when Dalton Sward freed the puck along the boards and found Austin Vetterl open in front of the Royals' net. The Vancouver forward made a move to his backhand and beat Polivka to the stick side at 10:27. The Giants would take the lead at the 12:49 mark when Jackson Houck gained the Victoria blue line and made a drop pass to Marek Tvrdon who snapped home a shot from the slot that beat the Royals' netminder over the glove hand. Victoria responded at 14:52 off a goal from Logan Nelson that began with a face-off to the left of the Giants' netminder. Royals' center Brandon Magee won the draw and pushed the puck past a Vancouver defender before sending a cross-crease pass to Nelson who buried the puck into an open net. The Royals and Giants skated into the first intermission deadlocked at two goals apiece.

Victoria regained the lead with a powerplay marker from Magee 3:35 into the second period. Ben Walker skated out from behind the Vancouver net and found Magee alone at the back post who snapped the puck past Fuhr. The Royals' defence went to work half way through the frame as they killed off over a minute of a 5-on-3 penalty to maintain the lead. Victoria netminder Polivka turned aside the Giants' best chance of the period as he thwarted a 3-on-1 rush with an outstretched right pad save and the Royals held the one-goal lead after 40 minutes of play.

Vancouver made a lineup change to open the third period as Liam Liston relieved Tyler Fuhr in the Giants' net. Just past the halfway point of the period, Magee looked to add his second goal of the night, but had the marker waived off. Ben Walker would add an empty net tally at the 18:48 mark to seal the victory. Victoria 4 Vancouver 2.

Victoria went 1/4 25.0% on the powerplay, while Vancouver was 0/5 0.00%. The Giants' outshot the Royals 30-17.

Having completed their pre-season schedule, the Royals return to the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre for the team's home opener on Saturday, September 22nd. Mark Donnelly, "Mr. O' Canada," will be on hand to sing the anthem while the ceremonial puck drop will feature members of Team Canada's London 2012 contingent! Puck drop for the Royals' home opener is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Saturday evening.

Tickets for the Royals' 2012 home opener are on sale now. Season tickets and mini-packs are also now on sale. Guarantee yourself the best seats by visiting www.victoriaroyals.com, calling 250-220-7889, or emailing tickets@victoriaroyals.com before it's too late!

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Western Hockey League Stories from September 15, 2012


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