WCQF | Game #1 | Preview | Royals @ Winterhawks
Portland, OR – 68 Regular Season games have come and gone, which means the quest for the Ed Chynoweth Cup begins now. It’s time for the playoffs! The Royals head south of the border to kick off their best-of-seven series against the Portland Winterhawks. Puck drop is set for 7:00 pm at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Oregon.
JUSTIN ALL-STAR
Royals defenseman Justin Kipkie was named a WHL B.C. Division First Team All-Star. The 18-year-old from Calgary, Alberta, posted career highs in each offensive category, scoring 16 goals and adding 36 assists for 52 points in 67 games played. C
PLAYOFF WATCH PARTY
Wondering where the best place to catch tonight’s game is? Come join us at the Six Mile Pub & Eatery (494 Island Highway) at the official Victoria Royals watch party. Watch parties will be held for both game 1 and game 2 of the playoffs at Six Mile Pub & Eatery.
SERIES AT A GLANCE
WHL Western Conference Quarter Finals
Portland Winterhawks (2) vs Victoria Royals (7)
Series tied 0-0
- Game 1: Mar. 29 @ POR • 7:00 pm
- Game 2: Mar. 30 @ POR • 6:00 pm
- Game 3: Apr. 02 v. POR • 7:05 pm
- Game 4: Apr. 03 v. POR • 7:05 pm
- Game 5*: Apr. 05 v. POR • 7:05 pm
- Game 6*: Apr. 07 @ POR • 5:00 pm
- Game 7*: Apr. 09 @ POR • 7:00 pm
*if necessary
THE LAST TIME THESE TEAMS MET
PORTLAND
These teams last met back in Portland at the beginning of the month, March 2nd. Braden Holt got the start in goal for the Royals while Jan Spunar started for the Winterhawks. Josh Zakreski (18) got the Winterhawks on the board first, giving them a 1-0 lead. Goals from Tyson Laventure (27) and Cole Reschny (19) made sure the Royals took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. The Winterhawks tilted the ice in the second period, outshooting the Royals 16-4, but were unable to find another goal past Holt. Early in the third period, Casper Evensen Haugen (13) would give the Royals a 3-1 lead. That wouldn’t last long, as the Winterhawks got two goals in 41 seconds from Josh Zakreski (19) and Jack O’Brien (20) tying the game 3-3. Just over a minute later, Reschny (20) would score his second of the game putting the Royals back ahead 4-3. Late in the third, Marcus Nguyen (20) would score on a breakaway to tie the game at 4 a piece. Overtime was required, where early in the extra frame James Stefan (42) would beat Holt to score, giving the Winterhawks a 5-4 win. Holt made 37 saves in the losing effort for the Royals.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
WINTERHAWKS
- Detroit Red Wings first round pick (9th overall, 2023 NHL Entry Draft) Nate Danielson is riding a hot hand heading into the playoffs. Danielson is on a five game point streak during which he has scored three goals and nine points. The 6’2” centreman had 26 points in 26 games for the Brandon Wheat Kings prior to the trade deadline, but caught fire following his trade to the Winterhawks putting up 41 points in 28 games since joining Portland.
- Defenseman Luca Cagnoni was dynamite for the Winterhawks this past season. Cagnoni set career highs in every offensive category scoring 18 goals and 72 assists, leading all WHL defensemen with 90 points. A San Jose Sharks draft pick, Cagnoni is fresh off a two goal, three point night against the Seattle Thunderbirds.
ROYALS
- Cole Reschny wrapped up a phenomenal rookie season for the Royals and will be looking to build off that in the playoffs. Drafted third overall by the Royals in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft, Reschny produced 21 goals and 59 points in 61 games, finishing top-five in rookie scoring.
- 2003-born forward Tyson Laventure has been a match made in heaven for the Royals since being acquired at the WHL Trade Deadline. The Lloydminster, Alberta native enters the postseason riding a four game point streak that has seen him score four goals and six points. The 6’3” winger had 16 goals and 31 points in 25 games since joining Victoria, and had 31 goals and 67 points in 64 games total this season.
SEASON RECORDS
vs WINTERHAWKS
- Nov. 22 @ POR • 4-3 SOL
- Feb. 23 v. POR • 6-2 L
- Feb. 24 v. POR • 5-2 L
- Mar. 02 @ POR • 5-4 OTL
ROYALS UPCOMING SCHEDULE
- Mar. 29 @ POR • 7:00 pm
- Mar. 30 @ POR • 6:00 pm
- Apr. 02 v. POR • 7:05 pm
- Apr. 03 v. POR • 7:05 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.ca for complete details and subscription options.
Written by Graham Morrison