Leading scorer Alex Gogolev is rumoured to be out for the remainder of the year and captain Tyler Stahl still has hopes for a return to the playoffs as the Royals will face the Kamloops Blazers after tonight鈥檚 final home game against Everett, the start of a home-and-home set against the Silvertips that concludes on Saturday.
For Stahl 鈥� who has been in and out of the lineup with injuries and suspensions 鈥� it鈥檚 been a frustrating campaign.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been tough. Obviously, coming in you want to play in all 72 games, that鈥檚 every guy鈥檚 goal,鈥� said Stahl. 鈥淚鈥檝e missed a few more than I like, but there鈥檚 nothing you can do but try to get healthy and get back into the lineup.鈥�
The team remains hush-hush as to whether that will happen, stating both players are out on a 鈥渄ay-to-day鈥� basis.
鈥淎lways a chance to get them back,鈥� said head coach Dave Lowry. 鈥淭he good thing for us is we have a week. They鈥檙e day-to-day and we will continue to evaluate.鈥�
Stahl, who has dressed in 41 of 70 games, will not be back for the closing weekend and his playoff future 鈥� and thus his junior career 鈥� could be in doubt.
The Royals are a much different team without him (13-15-0-1) as the aggressive rearguard keeps opposing forwards honest and their heads on a swivel at all times in search of the physical defenceman. That aspect is sorely missed.
鈥淎 hundred per cent,鈥� Lowry said of the observation. 鈥淗e鈥檚 the captain of your team. He鈥檚 a 20-year-old, he鈥檚 an older mature player and his physical presence is important and it helps our team.鈥�
And his teammates know it.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a huge part of our team. I know how intimidating it is playing against him,鈥� said forward Steven Hodges. 鈥淵ou can be in the stands watching him play, you see other teams鈥� forwards running around. He makes one big hit and everyone steps back.
鈥淚t creates an intimidating atmosphere for the other team and it helps us, respect wise. Instead of trying to skate through the neutral zone, they鈥檒l dump it in and that helps us with our break out.鈥�
To date, just Brandon Magee and Brett Cote have played in all 70 games for the 33-30-2-5 Royals, who have won just once in their last 15 games. They are also without Tim Traber, Patrik Polivka, Luke Harrison and Trent Lofthouse.
Lofthouse was back skating the last two days, but his status is also day-to-day.
鈥淚t鈥檚 tough to watch, especially when games start to pile up in a row. It just gets tougher and tougher,鈥� Stahl said of sitting out.
鈥淚鈥檓 feeling better, working on trying to get back to the lineup. That鈥檚 the goal,鈥� he added of making a playoff appearance. 鈥淣obody wants to miss that. It鈥檚 something you don鈥檛 want to sit out on.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the same two teams as last year and it would be cool to play at Bear Mountain [while the men鈥檚 world curling championship is at the Memorial Centre], a small barn and a loud atmosphere.鈥�
And the 20-year-old certainly does not want to see his junior career end in the press box.
鈥淚鈥檇 like to say that I, hopefully, make a positive difference. That鈥檚 the goal of every player, every night,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e missed more than I would like this year, but not unsatisfied with it [his campaign]. Hopefully, I can play out as many more as possible the rest of the year.鈥�
And then the former Carolina Hurricanes draft pick 鈥� who was never signed and is thus a free agent 鈥� can focus on next season.
鈥淚t鈥檚 your last year, you鈥檙e a free agent and you want to make an impression and create something for yourself. It hasn鈥檛 gone that way, so far, but playoffs are a big thing and hopefully that can make a difference.鈥�
His agent, Todd Reynolds of Ontario, is dealing with that aspect of the game as Stahl focuses on trying to get back in the lineup.
LOOSE PUCKS: With a win tonight, which is also fan appreciation night in which numerous prizes will be awarded, the Royals would set a new franchise mark for wins in a season at 34.
