Preview | Jan. 21 | Blazers @ Royals
Victoria, BC – It’s the second game of a two game weekend series between the Victoria Royals and Kamloops Blazers, and it’s a Sunday matinee! Puck drop is set for 3:05PM at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
FIRST CAREER HAT-TRICK
In the second period of last night’s game between Kamloops and Victoria, Royals forward Dawson Pasternak scored three goals, giving him his first career hat-trick.
SCORING IN BUNCHES
Normally, scoring one goal is hard enough, but for defenseman Justin Kipkie, scoring in bunches seems to be his preferred approach. With a pair of goals in last night’s game, Kipkie now has four multi-goal games so far this season. It was also the second time this season Kipkie has scored two goals against the Kamloops Blazers.
THE LAST TIME THESE TEAMS MET
KAMLOOPS
It was just last night that the two teams faced off in Victoria. It seemed like it might be a low scoring affair, as it was a goalless first period. In the second, Harrison Brunicke would get the Blazers on the board with the game’s first goal, but just 27 seconds later, Dawson Pasternak tied the game at one. That goal opened the floodgates, as the Royals would score four more goals in the second period, two from Justin Kipkie and two more from Pasternak to complete the hat-trick, giving the Royals a 5-1 lead through two periods of play. In the third, Ryan Spizawka would make it 6-1 Royals, before Kai Matthew scored for the Blazers cutting the lead to four. Casper Evensen Haugen would add a powerplay marker as the Royals went on to win 7-2 in front of the hometown crowd. Braden Holt made 26 saves in net for the Royals, picking up the win.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
BLAZERS
- 2007-born center Andrew Thomson was flying all game long for the Blazers. He led Kamloops in shots in last nights game, and picked up an assist on Harrison Brunicke’s second period goal.
VICTORIA
- Dawson Pasternak’s hat-trick in last nights game has propelled him to the team lead in goals with 18. The shifty winger from Winnipeg has 45 points in 38 games for the Royals, and has a three game point streak going in which he’s scored five points.
- Promoted to a line with Cole Reschny and Dawson Pasternak, Casper Evensen Haugen found immediate success with a three point night against the Blazers last night. The Norwegian was taken by the Royals with the ninth overall pick in the 2023 CHL Import draft. Haugen represented Norway at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championships.
LAST 5 GAMES
ROYALS
- 7-2 W v. Kamloops (01-20-2024)
- 5-4 L @ Saskatoon (01-13-2024)
- 4-3 L @ Prince Albert (01-12-2024)
- 5-0 L @ Moose Jaw (01-10-2024)
- 3-2 L @ Brandon (01-09-2024)
BLAZERS
- 7-2 L @ Victoria (01-20-2024)
- 4-3 W @ Wenatchee (01-16-2024)
- 7-1 L @ Portland (01-15-2024)
- 4-1 L @ Everett (01-13-2024)
- 8-2 L v. Everett (01-12-2024)
ROYALS UPCOMING SCHEDULE
- Jan. 26 @ VAN • 7:00 pm
- Jan. 27 v. VAN • 6:05 pm
- Jan. 28 v. VAN • 3:05 pm
- Feb. 2 v. SEA • 7:05 pm
- Feb. 4 @ SEA • 5:05 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.cafor complete details and subscription options.
Written by Graham Morrison
