The newest Victoria Royal grew up feeling at home on the diamond as on the ice. But ice mattered more, to the point where Central Scouting has Ty Westgard projected for between the fourth and sixth rounds of the 2016 NHL draft.
The newly-signed Westgard, a 17-year-old forward, joins the Royals (20-10-1-1) for their WHL game tonight in Vancouver against the Giants (10-19-2-2) before the team completes the pre-Christmas portion of the schedule Friday and Saturday in Prince George against the rising Cougars (20-10-1-1).
Dad Chuck Westgard was a pitcher signed to a pro contract out of high school by the New York Yankees and played single-A ball in 1983 with the Oneonta Yankees in the New York-Pennsylvania League before arm issues scuttled his pro career. But Chuck Westgard remained heavily involved in coaching baseball and also softball, in which his White Rock Renegades became one of the elite girls programs in sa国际传媒 and sa国际传媒.
The six-foot, 185-pound Ty Westgard, also a pitcher, played both baseball and hockey before choosing the latter as his main vehicle. Even then, the path to the Royals wasn鈥檛 direct after being taken 165th overall by Victoria in the 2013 bantam draft out of Semiahmoo. Westgard played two seasons for the Surrey Eagles of the sa国际传媒 Hockey League and had six goals and 15 assists for 21 points and 31 penalty minutes in 23 games this season. An injury last season limited Westgard to just 17 games with the Eagles, in which he scored five goals and had nine points.
鈥淭here are two paths in hockey and I switched paths,鈥� said Westgard, who had an NCAA athletic scholarship offer on the table from Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York.
鈥淚t was the choice between balancing hockey and school at the same time, or focusing on hockey now and school later, and I felt this [WHL] was the better fit for me,鈥� said Westgard.
Westgard was invited to attend the recent sa国际传媒 West tryouts for the 2015 World Junior A Hockey Challenge but was injured in camp. He is now healthy.
Asked to describe his game, Westgard said: 鈥淚 can produce offence and I compete and battle. I have to earn my ice time. I鈥檒l do whatever the Royals want me to do.鈥�
The Royals selected forwards Dante Hannoun and Matthew Phillips in the first- and second rounds, respectively, of the 2013 WHL bantam draft and Westgard down in the eighth round that year. But here they are now united, with Phillips leading the Royals and all WHL rookies with 18 goals (heading into Tuesday night鈥檚 games) and Hannoun in the midst of a breakout sophomore season with 16 goals.
鈥淭y Westgard is offensively gifted, and is a smart player with a high hockey IQ, and he fits in well with the 17-year-old group we have [which includes Hannoun, Phillips and defenceman and 37th overall 2013 bantam draft pick Ralph Jarratt],鈥� said Royals general manager Cam Hope.
Meanwhile, Royals forward Matt Dykstra of Edmonton has been sent to play in the Alberta Junior Hockey League on a team to be determined. The 18-year-old saw only spot duty this season and had no points and six penalty minutes in 12 games.
鈥淲e needed to get Matt ice time,鈥� explained Hope, of the move.
Tonight in Vancouver will be the Royals鈥� fourth of 13 games without captain Joe Hicketts and head coach Dave Lowry, both with the Canadian national team that is preparing for the 2016 world junior championship that begins Boxing Day in Helsinki, Finland.
Victoria is 1-2 so far in that stretch, all against the Giants, in an unusual four consecutive-game set that concludes tonight.
鈥淲e have to have short memories [following Sunday鈥檚 4-2 loss at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre] and come out skating hard [tonight] in Vancouver,鈥� said Victoria forward Jack Walker, who has four goals in the three previous games against the Giants.
