VANCOUVER聽 3
VICTORIA聽 2
As NHL draft picks, it is obvious why the Victoria Royals have pencilled in forward Tyler Soy and defenceman Chaz Reddekopp as two of their three allowed 20-year-olds for the 2017-18 Western Hockey League season.
The unheralded Regan Nagy, a two-way forward who doesn鈥檛 get anywhere near the same accolades as Soy and Reddekopp, showed why the Royals have reserved their third 20-year-old slot for him. The native of Ogema, Sask., assisted on both Victoria goals and was named second star in a 3-2 exhibition loss to the Vancouver Giants on Saturday at the Langley Events Centre.
Victoria had seven returning over-age 20-year-olds this season and some hard decisions. Soy and Reddekopp were no-brainers. Nagy was announced as the third 20-year-old as soon as last season ended, showing how highly the Royals value him.
鈥淩egan displays leadership and character, and ability on both sides of the puck,鈥� said Victoria head coach Dan Price.
The first Victoria goal was scored by 17-year-old forward Dino Kambeitz, a hockey-lacrosse all-rounder from Colorado, who just missed making the roster last season, but is stating his case now with two goals in the pre-season.
鈥淒ino went back to Midget last season and grew as a player and person and is starting to look like a WHLer,鈥� said Price.
Forward Ryan Peckford scored the other Victoria goal on the power play. Peckford was ranked 86th among North American skaters for the 2017 NHL draft, but overlooked after missing much of the latter part of last season to injury, and might feel he has a lot to prove this season.
The Royals fell to 1-2 in the pre-season in a game in which they were missing all four of their NHL-drafted players. Forwards Soy (Anaheim Ducks), Matthew Phillips (Calgary Flames) and blueliners Reddekopp (L.A. Kings), Scott Walford (Montreal Canadiens) are now all in their respective pro rookie camps.
鈥淭he play was scrambly, and even chaotic at times, but I thought the pace of play was high for an exhibition game,鈥� Price said. 鈥淐redit to the Giants. They played well. Overall, I was satisfied with our progress.鈥�
Veteran offensive blueliner Jared Freadrich, acquired by Victoria in a recent trade from the Red Deer Rebels for veteran forward Jared Dmytriw, made his Royals debut.
鈥淸Freadrich] logged a lot of minutes tonight and showed he is great at puck movement and has a very good shot,鈥� Price said.
Brock Gould and Dean McNabb shared the crease for Victoria with Gould allowing the winning goal on a wraparound by Bowen Byram at 14:40 of the third period and finished with eight saves on nine shots. McNabb started and made 12 saves on 14 shots.
The Royals conclude the pre-season today against the Prince George Cougars in Langley.
Victoria hosts Vancouver on Sept. 22 at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre to open the 2017-18 WHL regular season.
