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The owners of the Spokane Chiefs really like the Royals.
The Kansas City Royals, that is.
The Island version? Probably not so much after the Victoria Royals鈥� 3-0 Western Hockey League victory over the host Chiefs on Saturday night as rookie goaltender Griffen Outhouse recorded a 24-save shutout in his first WHL start.
The Chiefs are owned by the Brett brothers 鈥� Bobby, Ken, John and George 鈥� the latter the Kansas City baseball great and now VP of baseball operations for the World Series-bound Royals. The latter fact is much to the chagrin of Canadians, who saw their rekindled Blue Jays passion snuffed out by Brett鈥檚 K.C. squad.
Not that anybody off the Island probably noticed, but Outhouse and the ice Royals maybe scored a small fraction of revenge for sa国际传媒, and halted their four-game losing streak in the process.
鈥淸Outhouse] played great and made timely saves,鈥� said Victoria coach Dave Lowry.
Veteran goaltender Coleman Vollrath had started the first 12 Victoria games, with Outhouse getting one previous period of mop-up. But the guy they call G-Money was just that Saturday, flashing the credentials that have earned 17-year-old Outhouse the title of the Royals鈥� goaltender of the future when Vollrath, 20, graduates from junior at the end of this season.
鈥淕riffen has a good mentor in Coleman. This sets up really well for him,鈥� Lowry said.
Needing to reverse their recent fortunes, Victoria came out pressing and it paid off with first-period goals by Matthew Phillips at 1:59 and Jack Walker, on the power play, at 6:27. The first-period damage could have been more extensive, but Royals forward Dante Hannoun was twice robbed by Spokane goaltender Tyson Verhelst. Ryan Peckford put it out of reach at 15:52 of the third period. Phillips and Walker finished with two points each, while second-star Joe Hicketts was outstanding on defence.
鈥淲e were ready to play. Our guys were sharp early,鈥� said Lowry.
In addition to Walker鈥檚 power-play goal, Victoria鈥檚 WHL-best penalty-kill held Spokane to 0-4.
鈥淭he special teams were the difference,鈥� Lowry noted.
The Chiefs, who in the Spokane sporting market must contend with NCAA basketball powerhouse Gonzaga, drew 5,812 fans at the Veterans Memorial Arena.
Victoria (8-5) and Spokane (4-6-2) closed out their four-game season series 2-2.
Victoria concluded a four-game road swing 1-3. The Royals are in a stretch in which they play 10 of 11 games away from Blanshard. The home game is Tuesday against Lethbridge (8-2). The Royals then embark on the longest trip of the season, six games through Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Those other Royals, of course, will have upcoming dates in Queens, New York.
