Preview | Feb. 17 | Rockets @ Royals

Victoria, BC – The Victoria Royals wrap up their three-game home stand with their second game in as many nights against the Kelowna Rockets. Puck drop is set for 6:05 PM on Saturday at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.

150 for Laventure

Forward Tyson Laventure put up his 150th career WHL point last night against Kelowna. Laventure picked up his 149th point on Dawson Pasternak’s first period goal, before getting point 150 on a one timer goal later in the first. Laventure added an assist in the second period, capping off a three-point performance.

THE LAST TIME THESE TEAMS MET

KELOWNA

Just last night the Rockets came to Victoria to face the Royals. Braden Holt got the start for the Royals while the Rockets countered with Jari Kykkanen. Midway through the first period, the Royals would jump ahead first on a goal from Dawson Pasternak. Five minutes later, the Royals would strike again as Pasternak found Tyson Laventure who wired a one-timer past the goalie, giving the Royals a 2-0 lead at the first intermission. In the second, Pasternak would strike again to put the Royals up 3-0. Late in the period, Tij Iginla would get the Rockets on the board beating Holt for their first goal of the evening. Late in the third period, the Rockets would make things interesting as Caden Price released a hard shot past Holt with just over one minute left. Despite having the net empty, the Rockets were unable to find the tying goal as the Royals hung on to win 3-2. Braden Holt made 28 saves to pick up the win for Victoria.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

ROCKETS

• With Tij Iginla’s goal in last night’s game, he now has goals in three consecutive games. A projected first round draft pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, Iginla has 36 goals for the Rockets this year.
• Drafted by the Seattle Kraken in the third round (pick 83) of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, defenseman Caden Price is having a strong year for the Rockets. Price has points in four consecutive games and has produced three goals over that stretch. He’s got 10 goals and 42 points in 48 games this year for Kelowna.

VICTORIA

• Cole Reschny made the most of his return to the line up, picking up a pair of assists in last night’s game. The product of Macklin, Saskatchewan has put up 45 points in 48 games for the Royals during his rookie season.
• Dawson Pasternak is fresh off a two-goal performance against the Rockets last night. The 20-year-old forward was involved in all three Royals goals picking up an assist on Tyson Laventure’s goal on top of scoring his own two goals. The 5’9” winger has 58 points in 49 games for Victoria this season, his first with the club.

SEASON RECORDS

vs ROCKETS

• Oct. 09 @ KEL • 9-7 Win
• Oct. 25 @ KEL • 6-3 Loss
• Nov. 03 @ KEL • 3-2 Loss
• Nov. 13 v. KEL • 4-2 Win
• Nov. 14 v. KEL • 5-3 Loss
• Feb. 07 @ KEL • 7-6 Loss
• Feb. 16 v. KEL • 3-2 Win
• Feb. 17 v. KEL • 6:05 pm

LAST 5 GAMES

ROYALS

• 3-2 W v. Kelowna (02-16-2024)
• 5-1 L v. Vancouver (02-14-2024)
• 9-6 L @ Prince George (02-10-2024)
• 4-1 L @ Prince George (02-09-2024)
• 2-0 L @ Kelowna (02-07-2024)

ROCKETS

• 3-2 L @ Victoria (02-16-2024)
• 4-2 L v. Spokane (02-13-2024)
• 7-3 L v. Kamloops (02-10-2024)
• 6-3 W @ Kamloops (02-09-2024)
• 2-0 W v. Victoria (02-07-2024)

ROYALS UPCOMING SCHEDULE

• Feb. 19 @ KAM • 2:00 pm
• Feb. 23 v. POR • 7:05 pm
• Feb. 24 v. POR • 6:05 pm
• Mar. 01 @ TRI • 7:05 pm
• Mar. 02 @ POR • 6:00 pm

WATCH AND LISTEN

Radio broadcast

Royals games will be broadcast on 91.3 FM the Zone this season with Marlon Martens calling all of the action.

Online video stream

All Royals games will be available on WHL Live.  WHL Live is available to fans anywhere in the world, providing high-quality streaming of WHL games on Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV platforms, via mobile with iOS and Android, and on web using Safari or Google Chrome web browsers. Visit watch.chl.ca for complete details and subscription options.

Written by Graham Morrison