With dozens of friends and family in the stands, the two Edmonton-area products will carry that added adrenalin into the Western Hockey League matchup, slated for 6 p.m. Pacific time.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always nice to head home,鈥� said Florchuk, a product of Fort Saskatchewan鈥檚 Rangers鈥� minor hockey program, just northeast of the Alberta capital. 鈥淭here will be quite a few friends and a lot of family that I haven鈥檛 seen in a while, so it should be nice.
鈥淚t will be very comfortable playing there and you鈥檇 love to put on a show for family and friends,鈥� added Florchuk, who expects about 50 friends and family in the building. 鈥淨uite a few have reached out to me.鈥�
His mom Jennifer, dad Steve and brother Spencer will be situated in a suite they rustled up for family and Florchuk鈥檚 friends are just buying tickets to the Oil Kings鈥� encounter. Florchuk was also expected to get home for an evening after the Royals spent a couple of nights in Jasper en route to Edmonton from Seattle.
鈥淚 love the homemade meals,鈥� admitted the 17-year-old, who has three goals and eight assists in 10 games this season. 鈥淚 do like her [mom鈥檚] chicken fettucine Alfredo 鈥� it鈥檚 like a casserole and it鈥檚 one of my favourites.鈥�
Peckford hails from Stony Plain, located just west of Edmonton, and will also have fans on hand.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always fun to go home and play in front of family and friends in the rink where the Oil Kings and Oilers play 鈥� that鈥檚 pretty cool for sure,鈥� said the 18-year-old forward, who is off to a great start with seven goals and seven helpers in 10 games. His five power-play goals were tied for second heading into Tuesday play in the WHL. 鈥淭he rink is massive with super fans and it鈥檚 definitely fun to play in.鈥�
He, too, will have a crew on hand viewing.
鈥淚 should have my own cheering section,鈥� said a laughing Peckford, who will have mom Tamara, dad Jeff and sister Taylor in attendance. 鈥淵ou love having them watching you and cheering you on and wanting you to do well.
鈥淢ost of the crowd doesn鈥檛, because they鈥檙e cheering against you, but it鈥檚 always a good feeling being home. You want to do your best and try and get on the scoreboard, for sure.鈥�
Head coach Dan Price, who hails from St. Albert, a city just northwest of Edmonton that produced Hockey Hall of Famer Mark Messier, would also love to tuck away another win, also in front of friends and family.
鈥淵eah, I鈥檓 looking forward to being in Alberta. We鈥檒l be playing in a great building there. A lot of players on the team have friends and family in the province, so you have a chance to play in front of them which is always a privilege.鈥�
Royals鈥� defenceman Jared Freadrich also hails from nearby Camrose (to the southeast), while forwards Tarun Fizer and Matthew Phillips are from the southern part of the province from Chestermere and Calgary, respectively.
ROYALS NOTES: Phillips, on Tuesday, was named to Team WHL for the upcoming CIBC sa国际传媒 Russia Series, slated for Nov. 6-7 in Moose Jaw and Swift Current. 鈥� Tonight鈥檚 game marks the third of the seven-game road trip, with Edmonton being the only Alberta stop before heading into Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
