The Victoria Royals’ stretch drive in the Western Hockey League just got more complicated.
Captain Tarun Fizer has been suspended by the league for three of the remaining five regular-season games for his major penalty and game misconduct for kneeing. Prince George Cougars forward Blake Eastman was helped off the ice following the incident Saturday night at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. Eastman’s condition is listed as to be determined in this week’s WHL injury report.
The Royals say it was in the run of play, but are not disputing the suspension.
“It was in the moment and two players collided awkwardly,” said Victoria GM and head coach Dan Price.
Regardless, it is a major blow for the Royals, especially since the challenge was unnecessary, with the game out of reach at 3-0 for Prince George and just over a minute remaining in the third period.
The suspension takes out of the equation, at least for part of it, the Western Conference’s leading points scorer in the month of March.
“We have been through this many times this season with key players out at key points,” said Price.
“We have the depth and the other players will step up.”
The Royals are tied for sixth place in the Western Conference with Vancouver but the Giants have three games in hand. Prince George is in eighth place and three points behind the Royals and Giants with three games in hand on Victoria. The Spokane Chiefs are in ninth place and seven points in arrears of Victoria with two games in hand on the Royals. The Tri-City Americans are in 10th place and are nine points behind the Royals with a game in hand. Eight teams will make the playoffs in the Western Conference.
The Royals are in Kelowna on Saturday to face the Rockets, one of five Western Conference teams to have clinched a playoff berth, along with Everett, Kamloops, Portland and Seattle.
