Royals open the 2026-27 season with win on the road
Kamloops, B.C. – The Royals opened the regular season tonight on the road at the Sandman Centre with a 4-2 win over the Kamloops Blazers.
The Royals came out with fire in the first, with Hayden Moore scoring the first goal of the Royals’ season at 10:06, assisted by Caleb Matthews, to give the Royals a 1-0 lead. Cole Preslusky had some big saves late in period to keep the 1-0 lead into the second.
The Royals kept the momentum going in the second, but Blazers forward Andrew Thomson tied it up at 4:41 on the power play. Scoring chances continued at both ends, but it was Royals forward Cruz Waltze who answered with his first of the season to regain the one-goal lead at 14:04, with assists from Wyatt Danyleyko and Max Silver.
At 13:24 of the third, the Blazers tied it up on the power play with Andrew Thomson’s second of the game. Shortly after, at 15:18, Royals Marek Peroutka got his first goal in the Western Hockey League on the power play, assisted by Odin Vauhkonen and Savin Virk, to put the Royals ahead 3-2.
Caleb Matthews extended the lead with an empty-net goal at 18:31, assisted by Ludovic Perreault. Royals’ goaltender Cole Prelusky earned first-star of the evening with 34 saves in his WHL debut.
Scoring Summary
1st Period
10:06 Victoria Royals Goal
Hayden Moore (1) assisted by Caleb Matthews
2nd Period
Kamloops Blazers Goal
4:41 Andrew Thomson (1) assisted by Mateo Ferriera
Victoria Royals Goal
14:04 Cruz Waltze (1) assisted by Wyatt Danyleyko and Max Silver
3rd Period
Kamloops Blazers Goal
13:24 Andrew Thomson (2) assisted by Mateo Ferreira and Vit Zahejsky
Victoria Royals Goal
15:18 Marek Peroutka (1)assisted by Odin Vauhkonen and Savin Virk
Victoria Royals Goal
18:31 Caleb Matthews (1) assisted by Ludovic Perreault
Shots On Goal
Royals – 26
Blazers – 36
Goalie Stats
Prelusky – 34/36
Edmonstone – 22/25
Powerplay
Royals – 1/3
Blazers – 2/3
What’s Next
The Royals head back to Victoria to face the Vancouver Giants in the Home Opener next Saturday at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre with puck drop slated for 6:05 pm.
