With apologies to author Tom Robbins, the A&W Restaurant near Alderside, Alta., was more than just another roadside attraction for the Victoria Royals. It was literally shelter. That’s where the Western Hockey League club spent the night after their bus had to stop amid a snowstorm.
The Royals left Lethbridge on Tuesday night following their 5-1 loss to the Hurricanes and were on their way to Calgary for the scheduled game Wednesday night against the Hitmen (6-4-2). Because of the situation, the Victoria-Calgary game has been postponed to Thursday night at 6 p.m. PT at the Seven Chiefs Sportsplex on the Tsuut’ina Nation.
“It was snowy with wind blowing and we had to pull the bus over because it was not safe to drive any further and we felt it wasn’t safe in those conditions to remain on the parked bus, either,” said Royals GM and head coach Dan Price.
“There are no hotels in that area but the restaurant stayed open all night for us.”
The Alberta hospitality was greatly appreciated but that didn’t make the plastic seats any easier in which to spend the night. The Royals finally got into their Calgary hotel at about 10:15 a.m. Wednesday morning and the players went to their rooms to sleep until the afternoon.
“That was literally a night on the road,” said Price.
The Royals (3-11-2) are nearing the end of their six-game road swing through the Eastern Conference Central Division, the team’s first such trip since before the pandemic, and which stands at 1-3.
“Late in long road trips you have to play simpler,” said Price.
After Thursday night's against the Hitmen, the road trip concludes Friday at Rogers Place in Edmonton against the defending WHL champions but now last-place Oil Kings (1-12-1).
The Royals are next at home Nov. 11-12 against the Portland Winterhawks at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
