ROYALS MOVE PAST AMERICANS

Victoria vaults to fourth place in the Western Conference with 5-3 win over Tri-City.

For Immediate Release

Friday, February 8, 2013

Kennewick, WA – In a Friday night matchup at the Toyota Centre, the Victoria Royals went up against the Tri-City Americans as they began a six-game road trip. The Royals started Patrik Polivka in net, while the Americans countered with Luke Lee-Knight.

Steven Hogdes scored his 22nd of the season on the powerplay just 1:22 into the first period. Hodges picked up an errant puck at the left face-off circle in the Tri-City zone before he shelved the puck over Lee-Knight’s right shoulder. Jesse Mychan tied the game for the Americans at the 13:17 mark. Connor Rankin’s shot was stopped by Polivka, but the Royals’ goaltender could not find the loose puck and Mychan backhanded the loose puck into the back of the net. After 20 minutes of play Victoria and Tri-City were tied 1-1.

Americans’ forward Justin Feser scored his 30th goal of the season at 6:58 of the middle frame to give the home side the lead. Feser battled for a loose puck in the slot before he sniped it high glove side on Polivka. Brandon Magee would level the score when he potted his 50th goal in a Victoria uniform while on the powerplay at 10:15. Magee walked off the left boards to the high slot and used a screen to rifle the puck glove side on Lee-Knight. Before the period came to a close, Magee notched his second of the night at 19:11 to regain the lead for the Royals. Ben Walker streaked down the left wing and drove hard to the net before the puck bounced to Magee at the right post. The 18-year-old winger tapped in his 28th of the season and Victoria took the 3-2 lead into the second intermission.

Royals’ defenceman Jordan Fransoo scored his fourth of the season at 11:52 of the final frame once again on the powerplay. Ben Walker cleanly won a face-off in the Tri-City zone to Brett Cote before the defenceman hit his partner with a pass at the left point. Fransoo launched a wrist shot through traffic that sailed past the blocker of the Americans’ netminder. Walker later added some insurance for Victoria as he scored the team’s fourth powerplay goal of the night at the 15:23 mark. Walker picked up the puck in his own end before he circled the Royals’ net and flew up the right wing. The Edina, MN native split two Tri-City defenders at their blue line then let a quick shot go from the bottom of the right face-off circle that eluded Lee-Knight short side and gave Victoria a 5-2 advantage. Tri-City pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker and received a late goal from Feser with 44 seconds remaining, but would draw no closer. Royals 5 Americans 3.

Victoria went 4/6=67.0% on the powerplay, while Tri-City went 0/6=0.0%. The Americans outshot the Royals 35-26.

Victoria continues their 11-day road trip in Spokane on Sunday night when they face the Chiefs. Puck drop is set for 6:05 p.m. The next Royals’ home game goes Friday, February 22nd when the B.C. Division-leading Kelowna Rockets visit Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

We are Royal Blue! Are you? Guarantee yourself the best seats for upcoming Royals games by visiting www.selectyourtickets.com, calling 250-220-7777 or visiting the Select Your Tickets box-office at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Mini-Packs, Vouchers and special rates for groups of 10+ are available by visiting www.victoriaroyals.com or calling 250-220-7889.

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