WHL Victoria Royals

Royals Topple Giants

Published on March 4, 2012 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Victoria Royals News Release


Victoria, BC - In a Saturday night matchup at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre the Victoria Royals welcomed the Vancouver Giants for the first of a two-game weekend series. The Royals gave Jared Rathjen the start in net while the Giants countered with Adam Morrison.

Victoria opened the scoring 1:28 into the game when defenseman Jordan Fransoo jumped on a loose puck and walked out front from behind the Vancouver net before sliding the puck between the legs of Morrison for his first goal as a Royal. The game's physical edge came to a head as Victoria defenseman Kade Pilton and Giants' forward Scott Cooke dropped the gloves just before the halfway mark of the frame. Both combatants landed heavy blows before Pilton scored the takedown. The Royals doubled their lead with a powerplay goal at the 11:22 mark. After sustained pressure by Victoria on a 5-on-3 powerplay, forward Robin Soudek turned deep in the Giants' zone and fed a cross-crease pass to Jamie Crooks who jammed home his team leading 34th goal of the season. After 20 minutes. Victoria led 2-0.

Vancouver got on the board 4:32 into the second period when the rebound from a Tyler Vanscourt shot was batted home by forward Nathan Burns. The Royals re-established the two goal lead on a powerplay tally from Zane Jones. From the right faceoff circle Hayden Rintoul one-timed a cross ice feed from Brandon Magee that fell loose in the Giants crease for Jones to net his 13th of the season. Vancouver replied after Jordan Martinook entered the Royals' zone and dished the puck to Brendan Gallagher at the far post. The Giants' forward tipped the puck past Rathjen to make the score 3-2. Victoria answered a mere 29 seconds later after a Fransoo point shot bounced of the end boards to Logan Nelson who directed the puck to the middle of the crease. Rookie Ben Walker found the loose puck and jammed home his eighth goal of the year. The Royals headed to the intermission up 4-2.

Victoria came out strong in the third period as they looked to secure the two points. Royals' goaltender Rathjen continued his strong play stopping all 10 shots he faced in the final frame. The best save coming off a Giants breakaway as Maker Tvrdon sprung in all alone and deked to his forehand, but could not beat the outstretched left pad of the Victoria netminder. Rintoul would ice the game for the Royals with an unassisted empty net goal at 18:55. Victoria 5 Vancouver 2

Victoria went 2/6 33.33% on the power play, while Vancouver was 0/4 0.00%. The Giants' outshot the Royals 31-27.

The Royals next home game is tomorrow Sunday, March 4th when they take on the Vancouver Giants in the second of a two game series at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Center. Game time is at 1:05 p.m. A Skate with the Royals follows the game. For further details or to purchase your tickets today, visit the Victoria Royals Ticket Office, www.victoriaroyals.com, or call 250-220-7889. -30- For further information contact:

Jeff Harris Director of Hockey Operations and Communications Victoria Royals Hockey Club 250-220-2612 jeff.harris@victoriaroyals.com.

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 4, 2012


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