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One thing the Victoria Royals have learned, the hard way, is never to count out the Kelowna Rockets on Blanshard Street.

Unlike in Europe, sporting timelines in North America are rarely measured by the century. But the Jackson Cup is.

Craig Didmon got what he wanted on sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ Hockey League trade deadline day on Tuesday. The Victoria Grizzlies general manager and head coach was hoping to add a tough, two-way forward who is solid at both ends of the rink.

Defenceman Loch Morrison and forward Carter Folk introduced themselves as new Victoria Royals teammates Tuesday with a handshake. Those hands have previously been aimed in anger at the other’s respective nose and head.

The question Western Hockey League teams are asked at trade deadline is whether they will buy, sell or stand pat. The Victoria Royals have answered that they appear to be buyers and are all in for this season.

The Victoria Grizzlies (26-8-7) are top-three in the sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ Hockey League and look to need about as much help as a snowflake on the Prairies. But there isn’t anything in hockey that couldn’t use some tweaking somewhere.

WENATCHEE 4 VICTORIA 1 The Town Toyota Center has not been a welcoming venue for sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ Hockey League visitors this season, with very few driving away with much success.

The defence was a little looser, but the University of Victoria Vikes women’s basketball team came up with a second straight victory in Kamloops on Saturday night, dumping the host Thompson River WolfPack 80-70 in sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ West play.

PRINCE GEORGE 4 VICTORIA 2 The Victoria Royals were given a strange 1-0 lead by the 1:01 mark of the first period on Saturday night in Prince George against the Cougars, but quickly had the rug pulled out from under them in a 4-2 setback.

In a surprise move, J.C. Boice stepped down as head coach of the Cullen Cup-champion Westshore Rebels on Friday.