SEATTLE 5
VICTORIA 3
Alex Forsberg isn鈥檛 among the five Victoria Royals veterans heading off to NHL rookie camps this week. But the 20-year-old forward鈥檚 value to the Royals will be just as high this season, as evidenced by his power-play goal and assist Saturday in a 5-3 WHL pre-season loss to the Seattle Thunderbirds in Everett, Washington.
The biggest question the Royals face this season is in regard to where the goals will come from. Forsberg is an obvious answer, as could be the emerging 17-year-old forward Matthew Phillips.
Phillips has scored in both Victoria exhibition games, starting with the 5-4 loss Friday to the tournament host, Everett Silvertips.
鈥淧hillips has been dynamite in this tournament,鈥� Royals GM Cam Hope said.
鈥淗e鈥檚 also hit the post twice. He might have had six or seven points by now, if not for bad luck.鈥�
Which is good news for a team that will have to work for every goal it gets.
鈥淲e are going to have to manufacture offence by committee,鈥� Hope said.
鈥淩eturning guys, such as Alex [Forsberg], are going to have to do more, while younger players will get a chance to step up.鈥�
The other Victoria goal Saturday came from Regan Nagy.
Evan Smith, selected by the Nashville Predators in the seventh round of the NHL draft in June, went the distance in goal for Victoria and made 37 saves.
The Royals conclude the exhibition tournament today against the Tri City Americans.
