Fizer, Palmer headline Royals’ team awards
The Victoria Royals celebrated the best of their 2021-2022 season during their annual awards ceremony during a private team banquet on Thursday.
The event also gave the team a chance to recognize the career accomplishments of their three graduating 20-year-old players, forwards Evan Patrician, Tarun Fizer and Bailey Peach.
Fizer was named the winner of both the Enex Fuels Most Valuable Player Award, and Gablecraft Homes Most Dedicated Player Award–an honour he shared with defenceman Gannon Laroque.
Although the Chestermere, AB product was limited to just 33 games in 2021-2022, he contributed with 47 total points (15 goals, 32 assists) and the team counted 18 of its 22 total victories with him in the lineup.
Meanwhile, rookie goaltender Tyler Palmer collects a pair of awards of his own, receiving Showcase Awards Rookie of the Year Award and the Shatterbox Hardest Worker Award.
The Fernie, BC native leads all rookie net-minders with a .909 save percentage while posting a 3.48 goals against average and a 16-22-3 record over 43 appearances.
Forward Bailey Peach also doubled up on hardware, collecting The Keg Fan Choice Award and the Mayfair Optometric Top Scorer Award after leading the team with 77 (36 goals, 42 assists) in 64 games.
Gannon Laroque was honoured with Wilson’s Transportation Top Defenseman Award along with sharing most dedicated player honours with Fizer. He led all Royals’ blueliners and ranked third on the team with 51 points on nine goals and 42 assists in 61 contests.
Forward Igor Zborovskiy took home the VicPD Community Service Award for his charitable work with the Island Kids Cancer Association, to whom he donated half his monthly stipend throughout the season.
Victoria native Jason Spizawka was the top performer in the classroom for the Royals and received the Jo Ann Thompson Foundation Scholastic Player of the Year Award in recognition.
Finally, the Pepsi Unsung Hero Award was given to forward Riley Gannon, who ranked third on the team with 21 goals, while adding 13 assists for 34 total points.
“Thanks to our award sponsors for their tremendous support of the Royals organization and our players. We’re very proud of our group, and this year’s award winners reflect the work ethic, perseverance and commitment that all of our players pride themselves on,” said Head Coach Dan Price. “We also want to thank all of our players’ families and billet families for their support and for making tonight such a special team dinner. Sincere thanks and congratulations to our twenty year old players as well. It was a great night to celebrate as a Royals family and we look forward to sharing more great moments together.”
The full list of 2021-2022 winners:
Enex Fuels Most Valuable Player Award: Tarun Fizer
Mayfair Optometric Top Scorer Award: Bailey Peach
VicPD Community Service Award: Igor Zborovskiy
Jo Ann Thompson Foundation Scholastic Player of the Year Award: Jason Spizawka
The Keg Fan Choice Award: Bailey Peach
Gablecraft Homes Most Dedicated Player Award: Gannon Laroque and Tarun Fizer (co-recipients)
Showcase Awards Rookie of the Year Award: Tyler Palmer
Wilson’s Transportation Top Defenseman Award: Gannon Laroque
Pepsi Unsung Hero Award: Riley Gannon
Shatterbox Hardest Worker Award: Tyler Palmer
About the Victoria Royals
The Victoria Royals are a Canadian major junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League (WHL) owned and operated by GSL Group. The Royals play all their home games at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre and have entered their 11th season of their existence.
About Save-On Foods Memorial Centre
Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre (SOFMC) is designed, constructed, developed and operated by GSL Group. SOFMC is Victoria’s premier entertainment facility and the largest arena in British Columbia outside Vancouver. The state-of-the-art 7,000 seat facility is home to the Victoria Royals of the Western Hockey League and regularly hosts large-scale concerts and other special events such as figure skating, curling, plays, trade shows and conferences. SOFMC also features a fine dining Lion’s Den Restaurant, as well as retail and meeting space.
