GAME DAY: VICTORIA VS. SPOKANE 7 p.m. at Spokane Arena Radio: The Zone 91.3 FM / TV: None

The road can be the cru-elest task master of all in a bus circuit like the Western Hockey League.

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The Victoria Royals, who have played four of their first five games at home in building a 4-1 record, embark on their first extended trip of the season. And a strange one it is logistically.

The four games begin with a drive to eastern Washington with contests at 7 p.m. tonight in Spokane against the Chiefs and Saturday night in Kennewick, Washington, against the Tri-City Americans before a dash back to the coast and across the border for a Sunday afternoon tilt at 4 p.m. against the Giants in Vancouver. After the whirl of three-games-in-three-days, there is a two-day break heading to the Interior before the swing ends Wednesday night in Kamloops against the Blazers.

"It's the first road trip of the season and it's a nice challenge for us," said Victoria forward Jamie Crooks.

"Every team's got to do these sorts of trips. It's part of this league. Sometimes it's tough, but you do it."

As an over-age 20-year-old, Crooks has been through more than a few of these.

"For the younger guys, it's there first time playing in these rinks," he noted.

"It's a good test of what we're made."

Spokane is 2-1, Tri-City 2-3, Vancouver 1-4 and Kamloops 3-0-1.

"Spokane and Tri-City are always hard-working teams," said Royals defenceman Brett Cote.

"It's a tough road trip but hopefully we get some points out of it."

Victoria head coach Dave Lowry said the impending swing made Wednesday night's home 4-3 rally win against the Medicine Hat Tigers, on an overtime goal by Cote, all that more important in terms of momentum.

"We're going into three tough buildings this weekend and that's why it was critical to find a way to win [on Wednesday]," said Lowry.

The Royals return to Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre for a back-to-back set against the Kelowna Rockets Oct. 12-13.

cdheensaw@timescolonist.com