RECAP: Royals Top Giants 4-1 In First Game Of Back-To-Back

Category: ArticleSeptember 26, 2026

STORY BY QUINN TAYLOR

Victoria, B.C. – The Victoria Royals defeated the Vancouver Giants 4-1 in the Giants’ first road game of the season on Saturday night.

Royals forward Marek Peroutka gave Victoria the early 1-0 lead and only goal of the first for both teams.

In the second period, Savin Virk tipped in a Nolan Stewart shot from the point to give the Royals a 2-0 lead.

In the third period, the Giants looked to start a comeback early, when Ethan Armstrong capitalized on a rebound chance in front of the net, to cut the Royals lead to 2-1. Crosby Mateychuk recorded his first career WHL point with an assist on the goal.

After killing two penalties in five minutes, the Giants would give up an even strength goal to Virk for his second of the game with 11:37 remaining in the third. With under two minutes left in the third, Royals forward Nolan Stewart would put the game away with an empty net goal.

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GAME SUMMARY

Victoria’s Peroutka opened the scoring four minutes into the first.

In the second period, the Royals added to their lead with a goal from Savin Virk to make it 2-0. The Giants had three opportunities on the power play in the middle frame, but weren’t able to score.

Giants forward Ethan Armstrong found the back of the net 1:25 in to the third, cutting the Royals lead to 2-1 after he batted the puck out of the air. Mateychuk recorded his first career WHL point with an assist on the Armstrong’s goal.

Armstrong from Mateychuk and it's a one goal game in the 3rd period pic.twitter.com/0seYT5RweO

— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) September 27, 2026

With 11:37 remaining in the third period, Virk notched his second of the game, putting a damp on the Giants momentum while restoring the home side’s two-goal advantage.

Stewart scored Victoria’s fourth and final goal on the empty net to make the final score 4-1.

STATISTICS

SOG: VAN —10/8/8 = 26 | VIC – 14/8/9 = 31
PP: VAN—0/4 | VIC— 0/6
Face-Offs: VAN —24 | VIC — 42

3 STARS

1st: VIC – Savin Virk – 2G, 1A, +3
2nd: VIC – Vladimir Proskurin – SH 26, SV 25, GA 1
3rd: VIC – Nolan Stewart – 1G, 2A, +3

GOALTENDING BATTLE

Vancouver: Burke Hood (LOSS – 27 saves / 30 shots)
Victoria: Vladimir Proskurin (WIN – 25 saves / 26 shots)

UPCOMING

Tomorrow night, the Giants come back home to LEC for a 4:00 p.m. game against the Prince George Cougars.