Victoria looks to get back on track with three game slate against Everett and Kamloops
The Royals will play on the road Friday before returning home for a pair of games on Saturday and Sunday.
The team will cross the border on Friday for a date with the Everett Silvertips, then return home for back-to-back games against the Kamloops Blazers on Saturday and Sunday at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.
On Saturday, the team will celebrate Lunar New Year with a special Chinese Lion Dance performance by Wong Sheung Kung Fu Club taking place pre-game at Gate 1 and during the second intermission of the game. Then on Sunday, the Royals will prepare for Minor Hockey Day in Victoria with a special puck drop time of 4:05 pm. Sunday’s game will also feature two new ticket promos, including a Family 4 Pack for $80 that includes 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 toques and a large popcorn for only $80. The Royals also have a great offer for minor hockey teams where each minor hockey team can get each individual ticket for $15 that will include a team photo with Marty and a team logo feature on the jumbotron.
Their Friday night opponent, the Everett Silvertips, boast the best record in the WHL at 30-7-2-2 with 64 total points. They were named inside the top three teams in the latest CHL rankings released earlier this week.
They are led on offence by Kelowna, BC native Alex Swetlikoff, who leads the team with 50 points (21 goals, 29 assists) on the season. Teammate Jackson Berezowski’s 29 goals is the most by any Everett player this year, and he comes into Friday riding a five-game point streak.
Forward Niko Huuhtanen is another notable for Everett this season, recording 22 goals and 25 assists for 47 total points in 40 games this season. The Helsinki, Finland native earned first star with a three-point (two goal, one assist) performance in his team’s last match against the Royals on Jan. 22.
Victoria’s Saturday and Sunday opponent, the Kamloops Blazers remain at the top of the BC Division standings with a 28-11-1-0 record and 57 total points in 2021-2022.
Forwards Logan Stankoven (23 goals, 33 assists) and Luke Toporowski (24 goals, 17 assists) rank first and second on the team in scoring with 57 and 41 points, respectively. Stankoven was recently named the WHL player of the month after recording 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in January, registering eight of those points (four goals, four assists) in two games against Victoria last weekend.
The Blazers also benefit from having one of the top goaltenders in the league in Dylan Garand. The Victoria, BC native leads all WHL net-minders with a 22-6-0-0 record with a .926 save percentage and a 1.97 goals against average this season.
The Royals will need a big weekend from some of their top scorers. Look for a big game from Keanu Derungs, who scored twice in the team’s last game against the Silvertips and has recorded points in back-to-back games. Defenceman Gannon Laroque also has played well of late, distributing the puck for six assists in his last five games.
Additionally, the first line duo of Bailey Peach (25 goals, 27 assists) and Brayden Schuurman (22 goals, 14 assists) are always good for a multi-point game, ranking first and third on the team with 52 and 36 points, respectively.
Victoria will begin their busy weekend at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, where puck drop is set for 7:05pm. They will then return home to host the Blazers on Saturday night at 7:05pm, and Sunday afternoon at 4pm.
For tickets to upcoming Royals games, visit the Victoria Royals ticketing page or call the Select Your Ticket box office at 250-220-7777. Visit the Royals promo page for all special ticket offers.
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