Royals Mustard their Strength to Ketch Up to Division Lead and Relish a Victory on Dollar Dog Night
Fresh off a win against the defending WHL champions on Saturday night, the Royals have another meeting at home against the Kelowna Rockets this Wednesday, before heading off on a short U.S. road trip to Kennewick and Portland. Download Victory+, available on all smart devices, and stream free.
This Wednesday is Dollar Dog Night at SOFMC with puck drop slated for 7:05pm. Hot dogs will be available for just $1 all game long. Come at doors ( 6:00 pm) to take full advantage of happy hour available till puck drop featuring discounted eats and the cheapest beer on the island. The purge will return this game with 40% off the team store for ten minutes after the siren sounds.
Team Matchup
The Royals (6-2-2-0) picked up two points in their first clash with the Rockets (3-5-0-1) this season in a 6-5 shootout win. While at the bottom of the B.C. Division, Kelowna has some serious firepower in players like Tij Iginla and Tomas Poletin. In a showdown between two longtime rivals, expect some high-scoring, hard-hitting hockey, the perfect pairing for a delicious hot dog.
The Americans currently sit second-to-last in the U.S. Division with a record of 3-6-0-0 and have struggled to generate offence. They have the second-lowest goal total league-wide, and the lowest penalty kill percentage of any team. Their strong goaltending has helped them so far, but all signs point to the odds being in Victoria’s favour on Friday night.
The Winterhawks have an even record of 5-5-0-0 so far this season and sit third in the U.S. Division. While their offence leaves plenty to be desired, Portland’s kryptonite has been defence thus far. They have the fourth-highest goals against in the Western Conference, and Sunday’s clash with the Royals will be Portland’s third game in less than 48 hours. Sunday night will be an opportunity to unleash the deadly Royals offence against a tired team.
Players to Watch
Victoria
Ludovic Perreault – Perreault has been a big part of the Royals’ lethal class of rookies this season. With two goals and one assist in his last two games, the freshman forward will look to keep his hot streak going this week.
Kelowna
Tij Iginla – A sixth overall NHL draft pick of the Utah Mammoth in 2024, Iginla is hitting the ground running since his return to the Kelowna Rockets, with three points in his first game back in the WHL. Boasting a 47-goal season in 2024, Iginla has proven to be a powerhouse on the ice.
Tri-City
Xavier Wendt – Despite the Americans’ slow start to the campaign thus far (3-6-0-0), Xavier Wendt has been a standout. Putting up a .920 save percentage and 2.85 GAA in seven games played this season, Tri-City’s three narrow wins would likely be a different story if not for Wendt’s effort between the pipes.
Next Home Game
Don’t miss out on the delicious combination of exciting WHL action and $1 hot dogs at Dollar Dog Night this Wednesday.
