Braden Smith

The Victoria Royals dropped a 9-1 pre-season contest to the Kamloops Blazers on Saturday night at the Sandman Centre, as the club dressed 15 rookies.

Youthful Line-up:

The Royals took the opportunity to give their younger players some game time and dressed 15 rookies, which included seven 15-year-olds, four 16-year-olds, four 17-year-olds and no over-agers. Kamloops countered with eight veterans that consisted of three 20-year-olds, a pair of both 19 and 18-year-old players and one 17-year-old.

 

Sitting Out:

Victoria scratched 20-year-olds Shane Farkas, Gary Haden, Jameson Murray and Will Warm, along with veterans Remy Aquilon, Brandon Cutler, Logan Doust, Brock Gould, Kaid Oliver, Mitchell Prowse, Phillip Schultz, Matthew Smith and Ty Yoder. They also sat rookies Alex Bolshakov, Trentyn Crane, Carson Golder, Matthew Hodson, Cage Newans and Kaden Reinders.

 

Local Product:

Victoria defenceman Braden Smith, who played in his second WHL Pre-Season game tonight, is a native of Kamloops, BC. Smith played last season for the Thompson Blazers of the BC Minor Midget Hockey League. He signed for the Royals this past week and was originally drafted by the team in the sixth round, 117th overall, in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft.

 

Next Up:

The Royals will wrap up their pre-season next weekend with three games in three days at the Vancouver Ginats’ Pre-Season Tournament in Langley, BC.

 

2019 Pre-Season Schedule:

Friday, September 6th at Vancouver Giants – 7:30 p.m. – Langley Events Centre – Langley, BC

Saturday, September 7th vs. Kamloops Blazers – 11:00 a.m. – Langley Events Centre – Langley, BC

Sunday, September 8th  vs. Everett Silvertips – 1:00 p.m. – Langley Events Centre – Langley, BC