The two Victoria Royals cited in Central Scouting鈥檚 mid-season ranking for the 2013 NHL draft 鈥� forward Trent Lofthouse as the 165th and defenceman Keegan Kanzig as the 194th North American skaters 鈥� know they are on the back side regardless of ranking method used.
But every Western Hockey League outing 鈥� starting with the one tonight at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre against the Vancouver Giants 鈥� is an opportunity to move another skate glide closer to the headier side of the curve.
鈥淚t鈥檚 cool to be on the NHL radar but I know I鈥檓 ranked pretty low. I definitely need to step it up if I hope to get a shot,鈥� said Lofthouse, who missed the Royals last game in Kamloops but hopes to play tonight.
He has self-detected his own areas in need of improvement.
鈥淲hen I鈥檓 moving my feet, I play better,鈥� said the six-foot-three, 180-pound Lofthouse, who has three goals in eight games for Victoria since the trade that brought him from the Everett Silvertips.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 be standing still. It鈥檚 tough being a lanky, skinny guy still growing into his body. I need to take advantage of my reach but also learn to get down low.鈥�
Trent hopes to continue the Lofthouse family history in the NHL draft. Dad Mark Lofthouse 鈥� a sniper who used to terrorize Victoria Cougars goaltenders in the WHL as a member of Punch McLean鈥檚 notoriously rugged New Westminster Bruins 鈥� was taken 21st overall in the second round of the 1977 draft by the Washington Capitals and got in 181 NHL games in a mostly minor-pro career.
鈥淢y dad went pretty high, while I鈥檓 rated at about the sixth round,鈥� noted Trent Lofthouse, who has 12 goals in 42 games this season with Everett and Victoria.
Yet, these rankings can be fluid, as with everything else in hockey.
鈥淚 was only a Bantam B and Midget B player and now I鈥檓 [in the WHL] . . . it鈥檚 crazy how fast things can change in this sport,鈥� said Lofthouse.
Blueliner Kanzig鈥檚 size alone was bound to draw the attention of NHL scouts.
鈥淚t鈥檚 good to see you鈥檙e being noticed but my ranking is motivation to do better because I鈥檇 like to get up higher on that list,鈥� said the six-foot-five, 230-pound stay-at-home rearguard.
Meanwhile, the two-game set tonight and Saturday looks on paper like a mis-match with the Royals (25-17-3) on a five-game winning streak and the league last-place Giants (12-36) on a four-game losing skid.
The home side can tie the Chilliwack Bruins-Victoria Royals franchise record tonight with a sixth consecutive victory. The streak has been accomplished with a severely compromised front end with six regular forwards out of the lineup. That was compounded with Lofthouse added to the day-to-day list and Steven Hodges, who has eight goals in the last five games, missing practice Thursday due to illness.
