There is no rest for the weary in the ice wars.
On a day when the 2018-19 pro hockey season officially concluded in Boston, the junior version of the sport already began looking ahead to next season.
The Western Hockey League unveiled its pre-seson schedule Wednesday. It includes 60 games from Aug. 27 to Sept. 15.
The Victoria Royals will keep alive their streak of never having hosted a WHL pre-season game. The Royals will play five exhibition games, all on the road.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a combination of things,鈥� said Victoria GM Cam Hope. 鈥淸Mainly], teams don鈥檛 want to come over on the ferry for a one-off exhibition.鈥�
Pre-season WHL tournaments continue to be a popular way for teams to examine talent by lining up a series of games all in one venue to save money. There will be four this year in Langley, Everett, Tri-City and Regina.
The Royals will take part in the Vancouver Giants鈥� pre-season tournament at the Langley Events Centre, meeting the defending sa国际传媒 Division and Western Conference-champion Giants on Sept. 6, the Kamloops Blazers on Sept. 7 and Everett Silvertips on Sept. 8.
鈥淲e looked at hosting a tournament this year,鈥� said Hope.
鈥淏ut other clubs have gobbled up the tournaments and we鈥檙e waiting for an opening [for future years]. But, it all works out well for us, regardless.鈥�
Hockey in August doesn鈥檛 seem right but that鈥檚 when it begins for the Royals as they will be in Kelowna on Aug. 30 to play the Rockets and in Kamloops on Aug. 31 to take on the Blazers to start the exhibition campaign before ending it in Langley at the Giants鈥� tournament.
There will be six games in five venues outside of WHL markets with the Prince George Cougars and Edmonton Oil Kings meeting twice at the Encana Events Centre in Dawson Creek on Sept. 12 and Sept. 14. The Oil Kings will also play the Calgary Hitmen Sept. 7 at the Seven Chiefs Sportsplex on the Tsuut鈥檌na Nation in Alberta.
Other out-of-market WHL exhibitions include the Winnipeg Ice and Brandon Wheat Kings meeting in Portage la Prairie, Man.
The WHL regular-season schedule will be released later this month.
