ROYALS PICK UP PRE-SEASON WIN OVER GIANTS

Victoria’s Jack Walker picks up three points in 4-3 win over Vancouver.

For Immediate Release

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Victoria, BC – On a Saturday afternoon at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, the Victoria Royals welcomed the Vancouver Giants for the team’s lone home game of the pre-season. The call in net for the Royals went to Coleman Vollrath, while the Giants answered with Payton Lee.

The two teams exchanged changes in the offensive zones to begin the game, but Vancouver struck first with a powerplay marker at the 11:12 mark. Rob Trzonkowski took a quick pass at the side of the net and tapped the puck past the outstretched pad of Vollrath. The Giants’ goal held up as the lone tally of the frame and Vancouver headed into the first intermission with a 1-0 lead.

The Giants held off the Royals early in the second and midway through the frame Lee would make way for Jared Rathjen in the Vancouver crease. Joe Hicketts then got the Royals on the board with a goal at 12:36. On the powerplay, Hicketts one-timed a Brandon Magee pass from the top of the right circle into the Vancouver cage. Just over two minutes later, Jack Walker put the Royals ahead. Walker made a nifty backhand deke on Rathjen before he shoveled the puck into the top corner. Giants’ forward Anthony Ast answered with a goal at the 17:57 mark to make it a 2-2 game after 40 minutes of play.

Magee regained the lead for Victoria 7:19 into the final frame while on the powerplay. The Royals’ forward entered the Vancouver zone and snapped a quick wrist shot on goal that eluded Rathjen. Under two minutes later, Walker notched his second of the game to make it a 4-2 score in favour of the home team. Landon Welykholowa stripped the puck from a defender behind the Giants’ net and found Walker alone in the slot before the Edina, MN native placed a shot past Rathjen’s blocker. Vancouver received a late goal from Cain Franson and pulled their goalie for the extra attacker, but Victoria held on for the pre-season win. Victoria 4 Vancouver 3.

Victoria went 2/8=25.0% on the powerplay, while Vancouver went 2/4=50.0%. The Royals outshot the Giants 29-28.

The Royals will face the Giants tomorrow afternoon in Ladner, BC for the club’s final test of the pre-season. The two teams will also meet next Friday and Saturday to kick off the 2013-14 WHL regular season. Next Friday’s game will be a 7:30 p.m. start in Vancouver while the Royals’ 2013 Home Opener will take place on Saturday, September 21st at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Puck drop on Saturday is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

We are Royal Blue, are you? 2013-14 season tickets, mini-plans, and individual tickets are now on sale! Guarantee yourself the best seats at the best prices by calling 250-220-7889, visiting www.victoriaroyals.com, or heading down to the Royals ticketing office at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

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