Royals host Med Hat Tigers in Country Showdown
This week, the Victoria Royals completed their first interior road swing of the season where they defeated Penticton in a 3-2 overtime win. On Wednesday night, the team will head up the highway to take on this year’s hosts of the Memorial Cup, the Kelowna Rockets. Don’t miss the action, watch live for free on Victory+.
The Royals will return to the Island this Saturday, October 18th to host the defending league champions, the Medicine Hat Tigers, at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre for the first and only time this season.
Saturday’s game will mark the Royals’ annual Country Fest at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre, presented by Island Savings. Ok Boot Corral will be giving away a Stetson Corral hat, along with boots, a belt and buckle. Island savings will be giving away a signed jersey, a $100 gift card to the team store, 10 x $10 gift cards to concession and an $100 gift card for the best dressed cowboy. There will be country music and mini horses at Gate 1. Wear your best country outfit and saddle up for a night of fun!
Team Matchup
Wednesday’s game will mark the first of six times the Royals will meet the Kelowna Rockets this season. In six games played so far this season, the Rockets hold a 3-3-0-0 record.
The Royals will only meet the reigning Ed Chynoweth Cup champions, the Medicine Hat Tigers, once this season. The Royals hold a record of 2-1-0-0 against the Tigers in the past five years, including a dominant 4-1 victory when the team hosted the Tigers at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre two years ago.
Players to watch
KEL – Tomas Poletin: The rookie left winger leads the Rockets in points with five goals and three assists for eight total points in six games played.
Hiroki Gojsic: After returning from Nashville Predators training camp last month, the third-round 2024 NHL Draft pick has notched two goals and two assists in his five games since returning to the lineup.
MED –Bryce Pickford: The newly-minted team captain leads the Tigers’ offence, netting six goals in eight games and totaling nine points.
Markus Ruck: As a younger player on the team, Ruck has led the Tigers in playmaking with nine assists in eight games, tied for third in the WHL.
VIC – Hayden Moore: As a Royals veteran, Moore has proven himself to be a top playmaker in the center, leading the team with seven assists in eight games played.
Ethan Eskit: After being acquired by the Royals in an offseason trade, Eskit has been dominant between the pipes. He currently leads the WHL in saves with 210 on 233 total shots and was named the first star in last Saturday’s match against the Everett Silvertips after stopping 36 of 28 shots from the league’s top offence.
What’s next
On Tuesday October 22nd, the Royals and Rockets will be back at Save-on-Food Memorial Centre for Dollar Dog Night. Make sure to get your tickets now at victoriaroyals.com.
