September 27, 2019 Victoria, BC (ISN)– After dropping their first game of the early season 6-0 to the Everett Silvertips last week, the Victoria Royals bounced back, earning a 2-1 win against the Prince George Cougars as Keanu Derungs scored the game winner, his first career WHL goal, on Friday night in their home opener in front of 5697 hockey fans at Save On Foods Arena.
After playing to a scoreless first quarter, Prince George’s Matej Toman would redirect a puck in front of starting Royals’ goaltender Shane Farkas five minutes into the second period to take a 1-0 lead. Victoria’s Carson Miller would beat Cougars’ starting net minder Taylor Gauthier with a wrist shot to the far upper corner over the shoulder glove side at the thirteen minute mark to knot the score 1-1
Royals’ Keanu Derungs, the 28th pick and product of Switzerland, would get the game winner early in the third frame, as Victoria would hold on to the lead the remaining fifteen minutes to record their first victory of the season, and their first at home.
They Royals would outshoot the Cougars 35-23, as Farkas would take his first win as a Royal, stopping 22 of 23 shots.
Tonight’s contest marked the first WHL home game in Victoria for a trio of island born Royals in River Fahey (Campbell River), Riley Gannon (Nanaimo) and Nolan Bentham (Victoria).
Victoria and Prince George will once again do battle Saturday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
