The Victoria Royals are No. 5 in the Canadian Hockey League top-10 poll. The only question is whether it鈥檚 with a bullet, as they say in the music industry, or with an anchor.
The Royals, off to a 7-1 start in the WHL, have reached the highest ranking in the 10-year history of the Chilliwack Bruins/Victoria Royals franchise. The previous was the No. 7 rating attained in 2013-14, when the Royals established the franchise record for victories with 48.
鈥淲e鈥檙e playing to our strengths,鈥� said Royals GM Cam Hope.
鈥淲e have one of the best defensive corps in the league and one of the best goalies in the league [Coleman Vollrath], if not the best, and the rest of the players are buying in. We are playing with pace and tenacity.鈥�
There is a cautionary tale about early rankings. The Chilliwack Bruins were well regarded the season before the franchise moved to the Island and became the Royals, and were an honourable mention in the 2010-11 CHL pre-season poll. But Marc Habscheid鈥檚 Bruins club underachieved and finished sixth in the WHL Western Conference and was bounced in the first round of the playoffs. So, nobody is popping champagne corks on Blanshard Street just yet. But it is an impressive start for a young Royals club that was thought to be rebuilding and off the radar of any pre-season poll.
鈥淲e are getting the goaltending, and are finding ways to win games,鈥� said Victoria head coach Dave Lowry, who is again showing why he was chosen head coach for the Canadian team to the 2016 world junior championship.
The Royals moved up from honourable mention last week.
Even without the graduated Connor McDavid, the Erie Otters of the OHL (6-0) are No. 1 in the CHL top-10 poll, followed by the Shawinigan Cataractes (9-2) of the QMJHL. The Calgary Hitmen (5-1-1) are the top-rated WHL team at No. 3. The other WHL-ranked teams are the Brandon Wheat Kings (4-1-2) at No. 6 and the Moose Jaw Warriors (4-0-2) and Everett Silvertips (4-1), both with honourable mentions.
The weekly rankings are compiled by a panel of NHL scouts.
ICE CHIPS: One year, in terms of age difference, is a long journey in junior hockey. Griffen Outhouse has time at 17 to dress behind 20-year-old over-age Royals goaltender Vollrath and learn while sitting. Evan Smith doesn鈥檛 have that luxury at 18. The six-foot-six American goalie needs to play this season. So the Royals are sending Smith to a USHL team yet to be determined. He will remain property of the Royals. 鈥淚n his development curve, Evan is an NHL drafted player [seventh round this year by the Nashville Predators] and needs to play. Griffen, in his development curve, can benefit by simply being around this [WHL] level,鈥� said Victoria GM Hope.
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