The Western Hockey League鈥檚 pre-game jumbotron playoff video, unveiled Friday night, shows the Memorial Cup being unpacked from its case and carried by two Mounties in full serge. The quest for the Cup has begun across the country in the WHL, OHL and QMJHL.
The Victoria Royals took a tiny first step with a 4-0 victory at the Memorial Centre over the Kamloops Blazers to open their best-of-seven series.
The sa国际传媒 Division third-seed Blazers survived what were essentially seven elimination games in a hairy late-season rally to make the playoffs. The fresher division second-seed Royals had a clear plan to get after the Blazers early.
The shots were 10-0 for Victoria when the Royals took the lead through Sean Gulka at 6:23 of the first period. Carson Miller made it 2-0 at 9:51 of the second period on rookie defenceman Noah Lamb鈥檚 first career WHL point on an assist.
Dino Kambeitz made it 3-0 off a pure-hustle assist from Tanner Sidway later in the second before Kambeitz sealed it with an empty-netter in the third period.
Veteran Griffen Outhouse made 28 saves for his first post-season career shutout, as he surpassed Coleman Vollrath in career post-season appearances by a Royals goaltender with 21 and tied Vollrath for most career franchise playoff victories with nine.
Island product and 16-year-old Blazers rookie goaltender Dylan Garand was also very good in a 34-save performance.
The second game is tonight on Blanshard before the series swings into the Interior on Tuesday and Wednesday.
