ROYALS BEGIN PLAY IN 2013 IN KELOWNA
The Victoria Royals are set to begin 2013 on the road where they look to extend their win streak to three against the Kelowna Rockets.
Tonight is the mid-way point of the season for the Royals, who came out of the Christmas break with back-to-back wins over the Prince George Cougars at home last weekend. Those two wins improved Victoria’s record to 19-14-0-2 for 40 points and sixth spot in the Western Conference. The Royals are five points ahead of seventh place Seattle and now have their sights set for a run at fifth spot, as they trail the Tri-City Americans by five points and hold three games in hand. The Royals will use up one of those games in hand tonight.
Although Austin Carroll missed the last two games prior to the Christmas break, he was able to extend his team high point streak to four games against the Cougars on the weekend with a goal and two assists. Brandon Magee had a big weekend with three assists on Friday and followed that with the tying goal and an assist Saturday night in a come-from-behind 4-3 shoot-out victory. It was a game that saw the Royals trail 3-0 through 40 minutes of play before they burst back for their league high seventh win when down after two periods. Jamie Crooks continues to hold the hot hand with goals in the last two games for 17 on the season to the lead the team.
The task will certainly not be easy for the Royals, who face a Rockets team that has been one of the best since the start of November and have become nearly unbeatable at home. The Rockets have won three straight games to run their record to 26-10-1-1 and are just two points back of the Kamloops Blazers for first in the BC division. The Rockets downed the Everett Silvertips 5-1 Sunday for their 14th consecutive win on home ice. Their .882 win percentage at Prospera Place is tops in the WHL, with a 15-2-0-0 mark. Myles Bell continues to lead the Rockets with 23 goals and 53 points and has three goals and two assists in the last three games.
The Royals and Rockets split a two game showdown in Victoria on October 12 and 13. The Rockets took the first clash 4-1, but the Royals responded the next night with a 3-2 win. They collide one week from tonight in Kelowna, which will kick off a three game road trip for the Royals.
A big clash with the Tri-City Americans awaits the Royals when they return home for a two-game showdown Friday and Saturday. Puck drop for each home game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Season tickets, mini packs and single game tickets are still available. Guarantee yourself the best seats by visiting www.victoriaroyals.com, calling 250-220-7889, or emailing [email protected] before it’s too late!
