Royals Knocked off by Thunderbirds  

Kent, WA. — The Victoria Royals opened their season series with the Seattle Thunderbirds tonight in a Friday evening clash at the accesso ShoWare Center. Despite a 40-save performance from goaltender Jake Pilon, the Royals could not fend off the Thunderbirds, with a final score of 7-4.  

 

Roan Woodward opened the scoring with his tenth power play goal of the season, assisted by Hayden Moore and Miles Cooper, at 4:44 of the first period. The Thunderbirds responded with the equalizer from Coster Dunn just under four minutes later. A power play goal from Braeden Cootes at 10:23 gave Seattle the lead, and a goal from Colton Gerrior at 12:48 brought the score to 3-1 Thunderbirds headed into the first intermission.  

 

The Thunderbirds extended their lead to three with a power play goal from Matej Pekar around the five-minute mark of the second period. Roan Woodward notched his second power play goal of the game at 11:03 of the frame, assisted by Timofei Runtso and Hayden Moore, to bring the Royals within two after 40 minutes of play.  

 

A power play goal from Ludovic Perreault, assisted by Reggie Newman and Heath Nelson, brought the Royals the score to 4-3 at 6:34 of the third period. Seattle’s Coster Dunn responded at 9:56 to reclaim the two-goal lead, but Nolan Stewart struck 17 seconds later with assists from Ashton Brown and Landon Young to yet again make it a one-goal game. Brock England scored the Thunderbirds’ sixth goal of the night at 14:47, and Coster Dunn put the puck in the empty Royals net in the dying seconds of the game to bring the final score to 7-4 Thunderbirds. 

 

Scoring Summary  

1st Period 

4:44 Victoria Royals Goal 

Roan Woodward (15) assisted by Hayden Moore and Miles Cooper 

8:39 Seattle Thunderbirds Goal 

Coster Dunn (6) assisted by Tai Riley and Vanek Popil 

10:23 Seattle Thunderbirds Goal 

Braeden Cootes (6) assisted by Antonio Martorana and Radim Mrtka 

12:48 Seattle Thunderbirds Goal 

Colton Gerrior (2) assisted by Brendan Rudolph 

 

2nd Period 

5:03 Seattle Thunderbirds Goal 

Matej Pekar (7) assisted by Antonio Martorana and Radim Mrtka 

11:06 Victoria Royals Goal 

Roan Woodward (16) assisted by Timofei Runtso and Hayden Moore 

 

3rd Period 

6:34 Victoria Royals Goal 

Ludovic Perreault (5) assisted by Reggie Newman and Heath Nelson 

9:56 Seattle Thunderbirds Goal 

Coster Dunn (7) assisted by Brock England and Cameron Kuzma  

10:13 Victoria Royals Goal 

Nolan Stewart (4) assisted by Ashton Brown and Landon Young 

14:47 Seattle Thunderbirds Goal 

Brock England (9) assisted by Antonio Martorana and Coster Dunn  

 

Shots on Goal  

Royals – 23 

Thunderbirds – 47 

 

Powerplay 

Royals – 3/4 

Thunderbirds – 2/4 

 

Goalie Stats 

 

Royals 

Jake Pilon – 40/46 

 

Thunderbirds 

Grayson Malinoski – 19/23 

 

What’s Next 

Capping off their US road trip, the Royals head to Spokane to take on the Chiefs tomorrow night, with puck drop set for 6:05 PM.