The most surprising team in the Western Hockey League gate-crashed the Canadian Hockey League鈥檚 top-10 poll for the second time this season, this week at No. 6 behind only the No. 5 Red Deer Rebels among WHL clubs.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not the flashiest or highest skilled team, but we work together,鈥� said Victoria Royals assistant captain Logan Fisher.
Flashy and skilled better describes the Seattle Thunderbirds (10-6-1), who stop over for a two-game set tonight and Saturday at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. The T-Birds feature New York Islanders first-round draft pick Mathew Barzal, New York Rangers second-round selection Ryan Gropp, third-round Blue Jackets pick Keegan Kolesar and Edmonton Oilers prospect Ethan Bear.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just another game,鈥� said Fisher. 鈥淓very game is hard in this league.鈥�
The Royals (14-5-1) have earned the right not to be intimidated by anybody鈥檚 lineup after knocking off several highly regarded teams in their recent 6-0 road romp through the Eastern Division.
鈥淲e rolled through four lines and really clicked on the road trip,鈥� added the 20-year-old centre Fisher.
That may be the understatement of the WHL season.
The Royals have outscored opponents 29-12 in gaining points over the past seven games while holding opponents to a downright stingy and CHL-best 1.90 goals-against average over that span thanks to a conscientious commitment to defence abetted by the crease play of Coleman Vollrath.
鈥淓veryone is buying in, and is on the same page,鈥� said Royals defenceman and L.A. Kings draft pick Chaz Reddekopp.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 a big part of our success right now.鈥�
Among the players to emerge this season has been 17-year-old forward Dante Hannoun, who leads the team in goals with 11 in 20 games after scoring just three in 47 games last season as a rookie. Hannoun has been overlooked in Central Scouting鈥檚 recent rankings for the 2016 NHL draft but must certainly be climbing toward recognition.
鈥淲e鈥檙e focused and prepared and doing what we need to do,鈥� said the native of Delta, who follows the Royals refrain by mentioning the team-first mentality.
鈥淲e鈥檙e young and not the biggest team, but we鈥檙e the hardest working guys in every battle for the puck,鈥� he said.
The line of 17-year-olds Hannoun and Matthew Phillips paired with 20-year-Alex Forsberg has proved to be dynamite.
鈥淲e have great chemistry together,鈥� said Hannoun. 鈥淲e鈥檝e built off each other. I hope it sticks.鈥�
Meanwhile, Thursday鈥檚 Royals practice was conducted by assistant coach Enio Sacilotto with head coach Dave Lowry away scouting the game in Owen Sound between the Russian junior selects and Ontario Hockey League all-stars as part of Lowry鈥檚 duties as Canadian head coach for the upcoming 2016 world junior championship. Lowry will be back in time for tonight鈥檚 game.
ICE CHIPS: Grant Fuhr will be back on Blanshard. Each WHL city is required to honour a former player who went pro, and a non-pro who took advantage of the scholarship program, as part of the league鈥檚 50th anniversary. The Royals鈥� ceremony is between periods Saturday and will feature Hall of Fame goaltender Fuhr from the 1980 and 1981 Victoria Cougars. The scholarship alumni player featured will be former Royals captain Tyler Stahl, a certified agricultural heavy equipment technician currently studying for a business management degree at Athabasca University.
