It took eight agonizing games but the Victoria Royals are finally on the board, earning a point in a 2-1 Western Hockey League overtime loss Tuesday night to the Kelowna Rockets at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
Kelowna captain Colton Dach, in his first game back from the NHL training camp of the Chicago Blackhawks, scored the winner at 1:04 of extra time to show why he is under strong consideration for sa国际传媒’s team to the 2023 world junior championship. Dach took advantage of a Marcus Almquist turnover to show an elite scorer’s touch to the far corner before a sparse crowd.
Heading into the game, Royals GM and head coach Dan Price said his squad was getting to be a better team in the defensive net front but not yet better in the offensive net front with only four goals in their previous five games.
His players answered those concerns. Early-game pressure led to a 7-0 Royals shots advantage and 26-19 game edge.
Penalty problems, a recurring early-season issue for Victoria, came back to haunt as Turner McMillen opened scoring at 8:11 of the second period on a Kelowna power play. Victoria’s power play was unable to score on five chances as many of those offensive issues still lingered.
Royals defenceman Justin Kipkie, with his second goal of the season, pinched into the offensive zone to tie the game 1-1 at 16:03 of the second period.
Victoria goaltender Tyler Palmer and counterpart Jari Kykkanen of Kelowna were named game stars. Events earlier Tuesday indicated both will be carrying heavy loads this season in their respective creases. Talyn Boyko of the Rockets signed an entry-level NHL contract with the New York Rangers and will likely play in the pro ECHL or AHL. The Royals released veteran Campbell Arnold, leaving the role of Palmer’s understudy to 16-year-old rookie Logan Cunningham, who has yet to play even a minute in the WHL.
Victoria’s injury situation got worse when top-pairing defenceman Wyatt Wilson, who was in the NHL rookie camp of the Winnipeg Jets, had to be stretchered off in the second period as a hush fell over the arena. Wilson’s condition was not known following the game but the situation didn’t look encouraging for a quick return. It adds to the Royals injury woes with their two best players having yet to play this season. Forward Brayden Schuurman was hurt in the NHL rookie camp of the Boston Bruins and Victoria captain Gannon Laroque, signed to an NHL entry-level contract by the San Jose Sharks, is also out with injury.
The Royals and Rockets (3-2-1) meet again tonight on Blanshard to close out their set.
The Royals, meanwhile, decided on their three allowable 20-year-olds for the 2022-23 season, by the midnight deadline Tuesday. Victoria’s three over-agers will be forwards Riley Gannon, Caleb Willms and Jake Poole, the latter acquired last week from the Rockets. There were five 20-year-olds on the Royals roster with goaltender Arnold and defenceman Anson McMaster, both returning veterans, let go.
“It was very difficult with lots of tears because these two are great veterans and great people with great character,” said Price.
“But we had a surplus in both areas [goaltending and defence] and relative needs at forward. It was a decision based on pure positional need and numbers.”
