What happened to the road Royals?
Returning from a two-win swing through Kamloops and Kelowna, Victoria was roundly trounced 8-1 by the Everett Silvertips before 2,836 fans on Friday night at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
The only reason the score wasn’t worse, especially early on, was due to the goaltending of Braden Holt of Victoria, as the Royals were outshot 16-3 in the first period and 35-7 by the end of the second period.
For Holt, it was indeed Friday the 13th, despite his crease efforts.
“I try to keep superstition to a minimum,” said the 20-year-old crease workhorse from Montana, who had the most games and minutes played last season in the Western Hockey League.
“But there are some things that make me feel good going into games. Two cups of coffee, with good amounts of cream and two sugars in each, basically right before we get dressed. Then I always have an apple and banana after warm ups.”
If he knew he would be abandoned in the crease like that on Friday night, Holt should have doubled, even tripled, the intake of coffee, cream, sugar, apples and bananas.
Holt held the fort as best he could but three goals by Las Vegas Golden Knights NHL draft pick Ben Hemmerling led the Silvertips. Forward Jesse Heslop from Nanaimo added a goal and assist. Defenceman Ty Gibson from Victoria added an assist for the ‘Tips. Recently acquired Dawson Pasternak scored his first goal as a Royal.
Now comfortably ensconced in their creases, goaltenders Holt and Tyler Palmer have fully moved on from last season’s trade that saw them switch teams between the Silvertips and Royals.
“It’s definitely calmed the nerves a bit that I’ve had a few games against them [Silvertips],” said Holt, before the game.
The Silvertips (4-3) didn’t even start Palmer on Friday. No problem, as back-up Ethan Chadwick recorded a comfortable win with 23 saves while Holt faced 45 shots.
The Royals (2-5) opened a five-game homestand, which continues tonight against the Swift Current Broncos (3-4-1) at the Memorial Centre.
