The Victoria Royals, the out-of-the-blue 2015-16 regular-season champions, are young and will be among the clear favourites next year in the Western Hockey League.
鈥淲e鈥檝e earned that,鈥� said head coach Dave Lowry.
鈥淲e go from being the hunters to the hunted.鈥�
Royals GM Cam Hope concurred: 鈥淲ith 15 to 20 players coming back, we can鈥檛 catch anybody off-guard next season.鈥�
Not among that returning group are the three graduating Royals 20-year-olds. But they wish their former teammates well.
鈥淚t didn鈥檛 end up the way we wanted this year. There is nothing I can do about it. I have to move on. But there is a lot of youth depth on this team and it has a bright future,鈥� said forward Logan Fisher, who played his last game for the Royals in Tuesday鈥檚 crushing Game 7 loss to Kelowna in the Western Conference semifinals.
鈥淚 have a special bond with these guys I will cherish a lifetime.鈥�
The graduating 20-year-olds 鈥� forwards Fisher and Alex Forsberg and goaltender Coleman Vollrath 鈥� are considering hockey options that range from Canadian university to the minor-pro ECHL/AHL levels.
If he goes the CIS route, Fisher said he will major in business/commerce.
A fourth potential non-returnee is captain and 19-year-old defenceman Joe Hicketts. What the Detroit Red Wings decide to do with him next fall will greatly impact the Royals. There is a small chance they could return him to play out his 20-year-old junior season with the Royals, which would make Victoria an instant 2017 national Memorial Cup contender.
But like any aspiring player, Hicketts wants to get on with his pro career. He looks ready.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e always thinking of heading to the next stage of your career,鈥� said Hicketts.
鈥淚鈥檓 hoping to play in the AHL, maybe even the NHL, next season.鈥�
Although he might be personally disappointed not to get that opportunity next year, should the Red Wings decide he needs more seasoning in junior, Hicketts realizes he would be returning to a loaded Royals team and a potentially memorable over-age season.
鈥淭hat will be a [Red Wings] training camp decision,鈥� said Hicketts.
鈥淭hey are two great options: Play pro, or have a really good run with the Royals. Whatever happens, I would be excited for both.鈥�
Said Royals coach Dave Lowry: 鈥淭his was Joe鈥檚 team. He leaves a positive legacy.鈥�
Questions also swirl around Lowry鈥檚 status.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just a matter of time before an NHL team snaps him [Lowry] up,鈥� said Hope.
鈥淥ne of these years, Dave won鈥檛 be coming back. We appreciate having him as long as we can.鈥�
Twitter.com/tc_vicsports
