WHL Victoria Royals

Trembecky's Game-Winner Leads Royals to 6-5 Victory Over Americans

Published on December 17, 2022 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Victoria Royals News Release


Victoria Royals celebrate win
Victoria Royals celebrate win
(Victoria Royals)

Victoria, BC - Forward Teydon Trembecky picked the perfect moment to score his first career WHL goal, scoring the game-winner late in the third period to lead the Victoria Royals to a dramatic 6-5 victory over the Tri-City Americans on Saturday.

The Strathcona, AB product had collected multiple assists for the club since being acquired in a trade from the Brandon Wheat Kings earlier this season, however that first goal had eluded him until late in the game on Saturday.

It was a monkey-off-the-back moment for the 17-year-old:

"That was surreal," said Trembecky following the game. "It's been a while, and it feels great...I was just trying to take the middle-ice there and the puck kind of squirted to me from Hoddy [Matthew Hodson] and I saw the top-right there, it was great."

Victoria entered the third trailing 5-4 after a second period rally by the Americans. They would use a pair of clutch goals by defenceman Justin Kipkie and Trembecky to take the lead midway through the third, however a pair of late penalties taken by the team put their win in jeopardy.

It was eerily similar to the events of Friday's game, where the Royals allowed a last-minute powerplay goal to the Americans, who they would eventually defeat in a shootout.

However, the final result would prove different on Saturday as the penalty kill stood strong and sealed the win for the team.

Head coach Dan Price was impressed with the resilience shown by his squad in the final minutes as they closed out their second win of the weekend:

"They stayed very level, very calm and very workmanlike," said Coach Price postgame. "That shows a lot of maturity and I'm very proud of them."

He believes the win will provide important momentum for the remainder of the season:

"The guys have really believed all along," said Price. "It's a very calm group, a resilient group, a group that has a lot of belief...We use that 'pound the rock' analogy, if you keep pounding the rock, eventually it's going to break and I'm really happy it broke for the guys in a positive way this series. Now we reset and start with game one on the 27th [of December]."

The Royals also benefited from a solid performance by forward Riley Gannon, who recorded two points on a goal and an assist in the win.

The game also saw defenceman Austin Zemlak record his first goal of the season, while starting goaltender Nicholas Cristiano made 21 saves on 26 shots on the way to his second consecutive victory.

Forward Jake Sloan was the top producer for the Americans for the second night in a row, recording three points on a pair of goals and an assist, while goaltender Nick Avakyan stopped 23 of 29 shots faced in the defeat.

While the final result would fall in favour of the Royals it would be Tri-City (14-15-0-1) forward Jake Sloan (11) who would open the scoring at the 5:38 mark of the first to give the visitors an early 1-0 lead.

However, the remainder of the frame would belong to Victoria (7-23-3-0) as forward Riley Gannon (8) scored a powerplay goal to tie the game at 15:13 of the period, assisted by forwards Jake Poole and Alex Thacker.

That would be followed by a go-ahead goal from defenceman Nate Misskey (2) at the 15:57 mark to give the Royals a 2-1 lead heading into the second. Forwards Teague Patton and Teydon Trembecky would collect assists on the play.

Victoria would increase their lead to 3-1 on a goal by defenceman Austin Zemlak (1) at the 1:34 mark of the second period, with Tanner Scott collecting the lone assist.

However, the Americans would respond with a pair of goals by forwards Drew Freer (4) at 2:23 and Jake Sloan (12) at 4:01 to tie the game at 3-3.

The Royals would re-take the lead moments later on a goal by forward Carter Dereniwsky (5) at the 6:29 mark - assisted by Riley Gannon and Tanner Scott - bringing the score to 4-3.

The back-and-forth action would continue as Tri-City tied the game once again, this time via the stick of forward Jalen Luypen (1) at 8:06 of the frame.

The Americans would then take the lead on a powerplay marker by forward Ethan Ernst (18) at the 19:54 mark of the second, putting them up 5-4 as the game entered the third.

Victoria would rise to the occasion in the third, with defenceman Justin Kipkie (3) netting his second goal in as many games to tie it at 5-5 at the 6:06 mark of the period, assisted by forward Teague Patton and Riley Gannon.

That would set up the game-winner for forward Teydon Trembecky (1), who scored his first WHL goal at 10:53 of the frame to make it 6-5 for the Royals, where it would remain at the final buzzer.

Forward Matthew Hodson would count the lone assist on Trembecky's game-winner.

Both the Royals and Americans will have the next 10 days off as the players return to their respective hometowns to celebrate the holidays.

Following the break, Tri-City will host the Everett Silvertips in their first game back, while Victoria will play a two-game road set in Langley against the Vancouver Vancouver Giants, set for 7:05 pm on Tuesday, Dec. 27 and Wednesday, Dec. 28.

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Victoria Royals celebrate win
Victoria Royals celebrate win
   



Western Hockey League Stories from December 17, 2022


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