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WHL Victoria Royals

Royals Wrap-Up Road Swing with 6-4 Loss to Americans

January 7, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Victoria Royals News Release


Victoria Royals battle the Tri-City Americans
Victoria Royals battle the Tri-City Americans
(Victoria Royals)

Kennewick, WA - Defenceman Gannon Laroque recorded two goals in his third game back from injury as the Victoria Royals fell to the Tri-City Americans 6-4 on Saturday.

The 19-year-old has made an immediate impact through his first three games of the 2022-2023 season, recording four points on two goals and two assists while providing stout defence on the back-end.

The game also saw multi-point performances by forward Jake Poole (one goal, two assists), defenceman Kalem Parker (three assists) and Riley Gannon (two assists), while starting goaltender Nicholas Cristiano stopped 20 of 26 shots faced in the defeat.

Forward Deagan McMillan led the way with a hat trick for Tri-City, while starting goaltender Nick Avakyan recorded 22 saves on 26 shots on the way to his third win of the season.

Tri-City (17-16-2-1) would take an early 2-0 lead on a pair of goals by McMillan at the 4:33 (8) and 6:33 (9) marks of the first period.

However, Victoria (10-25-3-1) would get one back on a tip-in goal by forward Jake Poole (22) at 14:49 of the first, assisted by defenceman Kalem Parker and forward Teague Patton.

The Royals would then tie the game on a powerplay marker by defenceman Gannon Laroque (1) at the 18:35 mark, bringing the score to 2-2 as the game entered the second period. Kalem Parker and forward Riley Gannon would be credited with assists on the play.

Victoria would return to the man advantage to start the second, where Laroque (2) would pot his second of the night to give his team the 3-2 lead at the 2:00 mark. Jake Poole and Riley Gannon would collect the assists, securing both players multi point nights.

However, that lead would not last long as Americans' forward Jordan Gavin (10) provided a game-tying goal at 2:57 of the period, which would be followed by a go-ahead goal from fellow Tri-City forward Tyson Greenway (20) at the 8:29 mark, giving the home side a 4-3 advantage heading into the third.

The Americans would extend their lead to start the third on a marker by leading-scorer Parker Bell (16) at the 4:56 mark, bringing the score to 5-3.

Tri-City would then collect their fourth unanswered goal at 10:11 of the frame, coming off the stick of Deagan McMillan (10), marking his first career hat trick.

The Americans' momentum would finally be stalled on a goal by Royals forward Brayden Schuurman (10) at 11:33 of the third, cutting the lead to 6-4 as the game entered its final minutes.

Both Jake Poole and Kalem Parker would collect their third points of the game with assists on the play.

However, Victoria's comeback bid would ultimately fall short - despite a number of chances generated with the man advantage in the final two minutes - and the Americans would hold on for the 6-4 victory.

Looking ahead, Tri-City will hit the road for a pair of contests against the Everett Silvertips and the Vancouver Giants next weekend.

Meanwhile, the Royals will return home to host the Kelowna Rockets for a two-game set on Friday, Jan. 12 and Saturday, Jan. 13 at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Tickets are available at selectyourtickets.com.

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Victoria Royals battle the Tri-City Americans
Victoria Royals battle the Tri-City Americans
   



Western Hockey League Stories from January 7, 2023


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