ROYALS TRIPPED UP BY GIANTS

Jack Walker records first WHL point in 4-1 loss.

For Immediate Release

Friday, October 26, 2012

Vancouver, BC – In a Friday night match-up at the Pacific Coliseum, the Victoria Royals faced off against the Vancouver Giants. The Royals started Jared Rathjen in net while the Giants countered with Payton Lee.

The first period began as a tight-checking affair that saw Vancouver rewarded with two powerplay chances. Victoria was able to kill off both Vancouver opportunities, but moments after the second powerplay expired at 16:11, the Giants opened the scoring. Forward Dalton Sward took a pass from Jackson Houck at the left point before charging into the slot and beating a screened Rathjen with a wrist shot high glove side. After 20 minutes of play, the Giants held the 1-0 lead.

Vancouver would increase their lead early in the second period when Marek Tvdron banked in his second of the season at the 1:16 mark. Tvdron forced a turnover behind the Royals’ net and brought it out front before he jammed it past Rathjen. The Vancouver forward later added his second of the night at the 7:40 mark of the frame. Tvrdon spotted a loose puck inside the left faceoff circle and let go a quick wrist shot that eluded Rathjen low to the glove slide. In a chippy middle period that saw 58 minutes in penalties assessed, Vancouver took a 3-0 advantage into the second intermission.



Victoria started the third period by inserting Coleman Vollrath between the pipes. The Royals would get on the scoreboard at the 11:35 mark when Jamie Crooks snapped home his fourth of the season. Steven Hodges received a Jack Walker pass in the left corner before he fed Crooks in the slot who let a quick snap shot go that beat Lee between the legs. The assist gave Walker his first career WHL point. Vancouver responded at 15:32 on the powerplay when Tvdron completed the hat trick. Houck took the puck in the right corner of the Victoria zone and found Tvdron near the slot who buried it past Vollrath. Victoria was unable to overcome the deficit as time expired. Giants 4 Royals 1.

Victoria went 0/3=0.0% on the powerplay, while Vancouver went 1/6=16.7%. The Giants outshot the Royals 34-14.

The Royals will now head to Kamloops to face the Blazers tomorrow night in their second of seven straight road games. Victoria returns to Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on November 16th to face the Everett Silvertips. Single game and mini-packs are now on sale. Guarantee yourself the best seats by visiting www.victoriaroyals.com, calling 250-220-7889, or emailing tickets@victoriaroyals.com before it’s too late!

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