It took a while, but the Victoria Royals are finally forming an identity. In the case of one line, quite literally.
Asked why the Royals unit of Evan Patrician, Riley Gannon and Reggie Newman is known as the Identity Line, head coach and GM Dan Price replied it’s because they encapsulate what the team is all about: “Speed, physicality and pressure.”
With five consecutive victories, and seven wins in their past eight games, nobody is arguing the point as the Royals are the hottest team in the Western Conference of the Western Hockey League.
“Now that we have had time together, and getting closer to full health, were are gaining traction,” said Price.
It’s not exactly a new identity the Royals have formulated. It’s more about getting back to the old one — the Royals Way as it is commonly known dating to former coach Dave Lowry and carried on by Price. It entails squeezing the most out of the players you have. That has counted for a lot in an organization with the least representation of alumni in the NHL among the 22 WHL teams. Until last spring’s truncated and pandemic season, Victoria, Everett and Portland were the only three WHL teams to have made the playoffs each season since the Royals came to the Island in 2011-12.
Price pointed again to the Identity Line when identifying the Royals Way.
“We look to our players to play a 200-foot game and those three guys are a great reflection of that,” said Price.
The Royals (8-11-3) meet the Rockets (11-9-3) tonight in Kelowna and the Blazers (18-6) on Wednesday in Kamloops.
