Where were all the seagulls? The cross-strait derby between the Victoria Royals and Vancouver Giants was renewed Tuesday, in of all places, Kamloops. That鈥檚 a long way from Tsawwassen. But welcome to COVID hockey.
The rivalry began for the 2021 season with the Giants (2-1) scoring three unanswered third-period goals, including two in the final three minutes and nine seconds, to snatch a 5-4 Western Hockey League victory over the Royals (0-3).
Keanu Derungs gave Victoria a 4-3 lead on the powerplay at 12:33 of the third period but Adam Hall tied it and then Giants veteran Tristen Nielsen, on the power play with his fifth goal, and former Royals forward Eric Florchuk pulled out the victory for Vancouver in the late going. It had to hurt more for Victoria when two familiar foes like Nielsen and Florchuk do that to you.
鈥淲e made an error on our penalty kill [on the Nielsen goal] and then lost coverage against Florchuk five-on-five,鈥� said Royals GM and head coach Dan Price.
鈥淲e鈥檒l definitely learn from this.鈥�
Vancouver jumped into a 2-0 lead on rookie Royals goaltender Connor Martin on goals by Zack Ostapchuk and Adam Hall short-handed before Brandon Cutler鈥檚 second of the season pulled Victoria to within one before the first period ended. Kalem Parker earned the assist with a breakaway pass for his first career WHL point. He is the third Royal to do that this season after defencemen Jason Spizawka and Gannon Laroque recorded their first career WHL points in the 5-3 loss to Kamloops on Monday. With 12 Royals rookies, the Royals鈥� youthfulness will be an on-going refrain this season. Victoria features the youngest roster in the WHL, with an average age of 17.64 years, and this could be a long and painstaking work in progress.
Captain Tarun Fizer, with his second of the season, tied it 2-2 for Victoria unassisted at 17:08 of the second period on a wrap-around. Anaheim Ducks first-round NHL draft pick Brayden Tracey gave the Royals the 3-2 lead with a deft deke on the power play at 17:08 before Hall鈥檚 second goal for Vancouver leveled at 10:03 of the third period.
The Royals are quickly coming up against it in the abbreviated 24-game sa国际传媒 Division season played in the hub cities of Kelowna and Kamloops with no spectators. There are no playoffs. It鈥檚 a straight sprint to the top of the table.
Meanwhile, the Kelowna Rockets were forced to suspend all team activities as a result of a positive COVID-19 test. The scheduled game Tuesday against the Kamloops Blazers was postponed. The positive came from a member of the hockey staff and not a player, according to the league.
The WHL said it is consulting with the sa国际传媒 health office.
鈥淭he WHL or Kelowna Rockets will not be providing any further comment at this time,鈥� said the league, in a statement.
鈥淧ending determination of close contacts and further test results, the WHL will provide further information.鈥�
ICE CHIPS: Matt Hicketts, brother of former Royals defenceman and Canadian gold-medallist world junior Joe Hicketts, was a referee for Tuesday鈥檚 Royals-Giants game.
cdheensaw@timescolonist
