Royals Fall Short in Kennewick
Kennewick, WA – The Victoria Royals kicked off their US road swing tonight against the Tri-City Americans for the first time this season. An intense back-and-forth game resulted in 66 combined shots, but the Royals fell 3-2 in a hard-fought effort at the Toyota Center.
Jakub Vanecek opened the scoring with a goal at 3:05 of the first period to get the Americans on the board first. The Royals evened the score with a power play goal from Roan Woodward at 12:32 of the frame, assisted by Hayden Moore and Timofei Runtso. The teams remained knotted at one headed into the first intermission.
The second period saw a combined 25 shots from the Royals and Americans, but the lone goal of the frame came at 9:41 from Wyatt Danyleyko, assisted by Odin Vauhkonen and Caleb Matthews, and the Royals led 2-1 after 40 minutes of play.
Tri-City tied the game at two after a power play goal from Jake Gudelj on a four-minute Royals penalty around the five-minute mark of the third period. The Americans took the lead late in the frame with another power play goal from Connor Dale. Despite pulling their goaltender, the Royals could not make up their deficit, and the Americans took the game with a final score of 3-2.
Scoring Summary
1st Period
3:05 Tri-City Americans Goal
Jakub Vanecek (3) assisted by Mason Mykichuk and Crew Martinson
12:32 Victoria Royals Goal
Roan Woodward (10) assisted by Hayden Moore and Timofei Runtso
2nd Period
9:41 Victoria Royals Goal
Wyatt Danyleyko (3) assisted by Odin Vauhkonen and Caleb Matthews
3rd Period
5:34 Tri-City Americans Goal
Jake Gudelj (2) assisted by Jakub Vanecek and David Krcal
19:00 Tri-City Americans Goal
Connor Dale (3) assisted by Jakub Vanecek and Jake Gudelj
Shots on Goal
Royals – 35
Americans – 31
Powerplay
Royals – 1/3
Americans – 2/3
Goalie Stats
Royals
Ethan Eskit – 28/31
Americans
Xavier Wendt – 33/35
What’s Next
Wrapping up their road trip, the Royals will take on the Portland Winterhawks this Sunday, October 26th at 4:00 PM. The team will return home for a double-header against the Penticton Vees at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre next Saturday and Sunday, November 1st and 2nd.
