Royals open homestand in the win column

Victoria, BC. — The Victoria Royals opened a five-game homestand tonight, hosting the Seattle Thunderbirds in their second meeting of the season. After outshooting the Thunderbirds 36-23 and killing 5/5 penalties, the Royals took the 5-3 victory at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. 

 

The Royals got on the board first, opening the scoring with a goal from Nolan Stewart, assisted by Landon Young and Timofei Runtso, at 8:29 of the first period. Seattle answered with a goal from Antonio Martorana around the 16-minute mark of the frame, and the teams remained knotted at one headed into the first intermission.  

 

Heath Nelson gave the Royals the one-goal lead with a goal assisted by Miles Cooper and Landon Young at 5:13 of the second frame. The Thunderbirds tied the game again with a goal from Matej Pekar at 10:56, and they took their only lead of the night just under three minutes later with a goal from Brendan Rudolph. Timofei Runtso immediately responded, knotting the game at three with a goal with assists from Caleb Matthews and Miles Cooper. 

 

The Royals took the lead back late in the frame with a goal from Landon Young, assisted by Hayden Moore and Reggie Newman. With his assist on Young’s goal, Moore earned his 100th career WHL point, and the Royals held the 4-3 lead after 40 minutes of play. 

 

Heath Nelson netted his second goal of the night on an empty Thunderbirds net, assisted by Reggie Newman and Hayden Moore, at 19:50 of the third period to secure the 5-3 win.  

 

Scoring Summary  

1st Period 

8:29 Victoria Royals Goal 

Nolan Stewart (5) assisted by Landon Young and Timofei Runtso 

16:18 Seattle Thunderbirds Goal 

Antonio Martorana (14) assisted by Kaleb Hartmann and Logan Miller 

 

2nd Period 

5:13 Victoria Royals Goal 

Heath Nelson (5) assisted by Miles Cooper and Landon Young  

7:59 Seattle Thunderbirds Goal 

Matej Pekar (9) unassisted 

10:56 Seattle Thunderbirds Goal 

Brendan Rudolph (7) unassisted 

12:01 Victoria Royals Goal 

Timofei Runtso (5) assisted by Caleb Matthews and Miles Cooper 

18:38 Victoria Royals Goal 

Landon Young (2) assisted by Hayden Moore and Reggie Newman 

 

3rd Period 

19:50 Victoria Royals Goal 

Heath Nelson (6) assisted by Reggie Newman and Hayden Moore 

 

Shots on Goal 

Royals – 36 

Thunderbirds – 23 

 

Powerplay 

Royals – 0/2 

Thunderbirds – 0/5  

 

Goalie Stats 

 

Royals 

Ethan Eskit – 20/23 

 

Thunderbirds 

Grayson Malinoski – 31/35 

 

What’s Next 

The Royals and Thunderbirds meet again this Sunday, November 30th for a 2:05 PM game at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.