The Victoria Royals' young blue-line, which will be under considerable pressure this Western Hockey League season, was in the eye of the hurricane Thursday.
Veteran Tyler Stahl was suspended for six games by the league for a hit-to-the head earlier this preseason, while Kade Pilton of Parksville - the lone Island player on the Royals' roster last season - has been traded to the Regina Pats.
"It's not a fun situation to be in but it's a league decision and I have to respect that," said Stahl, of his suspension.
The over-age 20-year-old, who has already sat out one pre-season game, will miss tonight's exhibition in Ladner against the Vancouver Giants and Saturday's pre-season matin脙漏e at 2 p.m. against the Giants at the Memorial Centre. He will also sit out the first three games of the regular season.
Missing games is nothing new for the soft-spoken native of Drumheller, Alta., who missed 50 games last season due to concussion and another two to suspension.
"It's tough mentally, but everything happens for a reason," said the six-foot-two free agent, drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the sixth round in 2010 but not signed.
"You have to retain a positive attitude because negativity won't help."
Royals head coach Dave Lowry also tried to make the best of it.
"It's never great to have a 20-year-old out of the lineup but it gives a couple of other guys an opportunity to step up," he said.
Meanwhile, Pilton was dealt to the Pats for the rights to 17-year-old forward Demico Hannoun, who had 12 goals and 26 points in 49 games as a rookie last season with the Surrey Eagles of the sa国际传媒 Hockey League.
The six-foot-five Pilton, who turns 18 on Nov. 8, had five goals and 13 points in 43 games last season for the Royals, who also netted a conditional draft pick in the exchange.
"We have to look at what this does for our hockey team," said Lowry.
"We had 10 defencemen [before the trade]. The emergence of some young defencemen created competition. And there was a market elsewhere for Kade."
The move leaves the Royals roster at 25, with 22 skaters and three goalies. [email protected]
