Recap | Jan. 9 | Royals @ Wheat Kings
Brandon, MB – The Victoria Royals (23-13-2-2) arrived in the furthest eastern part of the WHL on Tuesday night as they squared off with the Brandon Wheat Kings (20-14-4-1) at Westoba Place. The evening game was the second of a five-game East Division road swing for Victoria and the first of four games in five nights. Both sides aimed to get back into the win column following defeats in their most recent games.
The battle between the pipes featured Braden Holt, who made his second straight start for Victoria following his 26-save performance against the Pats on Saturday, while 2005-born Carson Bjarnson got the start for Brandon.
Victoria got off to a quick road start as they went to work on the man advantage just a few minutes into the contest, with Jackson DeSouza sitting for a hooking call. On the ensuing powerplay, Reggie Newman deflected home his twelfth goal of the season, redirecting a pass from Tanner Scott. Nate Misskey added the secondary assist on the play as the three connected for the opening marker just over four minutes into the game.
It seemed as if the Royals would carry that one-goal cushion into the middle frame, but those hopes were halted with just three seconds to go in the first. Brett Hyland tallied his team-leading 20th goal of the 23/24 campaign to level things up at one apiece in the dying stages of the period.
The deadlock was broken midway through the second as 16-year-old Cole Reschny notched his 15th goal of the season, bringing him into a tie for the team lead with Tanner Scott. Former Wheat Kings Teydon Trembecky and Dawson Pasternak played a large role in the Reschny marker, adding the two assists on the go-ahead goal.
That was the only entry onto the scoresheet during the middle frame as Victoria carried their one-goal lead into the third.
Victoria maintained that advantage into the final stages of regulation, but the Wheat Kings found another late-period tally as Detroit Red Wings prospect Nate Danielson grabbed his twelfth goal of the season to pull Brandon level with under 90 seconds to go.
The late tally brought the game to overtime, marking the fourth straight game in which the Royals needed extra time.
Just two minutes into the fourth frame, Caleb Hadland tallied the winner for the Wheat Kings, completing the comeback for Brandon and lifting them to the Tuesday night victory.
Scoring Summary
1st Period
4:35 – Victoria Royals Goal (PP)
Reggie Newman (12) assisted by Tanner Scott and Nate Misskey
19:57 – Brandon Wheat Kings Goal
Brett Hyland (20) assisted Roger McQueen and Quinn Mantei
2nd Period
11:15 – Victoria Royals Goal
Cole Reschny (15) assisted by Teydon Trembecky and Dawson Pasternak
3rd Period
18:39 – Brandon Wheat Kings Goal
Nate Danielson (12) assisted by Roger McQueen and Quinn Mantei
Overtime
1:56 – Brandon Wheat Kings Goal
Caleb Hadland (9) assisted by Charlie Elick
Shots On Goal
Royals – 27
Wheat Kings – 41
Powerplay
Royals – 1/3
Wheat Kings – 0/1
Goalie Stats
Royals
Braden Holt – 38/41
Wheat Kings
Carson Bjarnson – 25/27
What’s Next
Victoria will continue their five-game road swing tomorrow evening as they gear up for a matchup with the Moose Jaw Warriors. The two teams have familiar faces on either side as they linked up on a massive trade earlier in October. Ben Riche will square off against his former squad, while it will be the first time that former Royals Brayden Schuurman and Kalem Parker see their former teammates.
