The Victoria Royals were trumped 5-3 by the Kamloops Blazers on Saturday night at the Sandman Centre.
Logan Stankoven had a career night as he scored four goals,the 16-year-old now has 23 goals on the season, which is the most goals from a 16-year-old on the Blazers since Greg Hawgood (25) and Rob Brown (29) during the 1984-85 season and Doug Bodger (26) during the 1982-83 season.
Scoring for the Royals were Phillip Schultz 2g-1a, Brandon Cutler 1g-1a,after the night’s result, the Royals now hold a record of 4-3-0-0 against the Blazers. Victoria has beaten Kamloops more than any other team in the WHL this season and have accounted for 25% of the Blazers’ regulation losses.Royals’ forwards Carson Miller and Gary Haden extended their point streaks tonight. Miller has registered two goals and two assists on his four-game streak, while Haden has posted four points (1g-3a) in three straight contests.
The Royals were without three of their top six scorers in Brayden Tracey (18g-34a), Tarun Fizer (16g-31a) and Keanu Derungs (13g-14a). The three forwards have combined for 126 points (47g-79a). Victoria was also missing their 20-year-old starting goaltender Shane Farkas (18 wins), along with veteran forwards Sean Gulka (9g-8a) and Ty Yoder (2g-3a).
Earlier in the day, the Royals recalled affiliated player Ty Ettinger. The 2000-born defenceman currently plays for the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. In 27 games with the Crusaders, he has posted 10 points (4g-6a). The native of Ardrossan, AB has also skated in 14 WHL games this season, spilt between the Royals and Winnipeg ICE and has collected one assist.
The Royals will home return home on Wednesday, February 19th, versus the Calgary Hitmen, for the first of three-games in four nights. Victoria will then battle the Kelowna Rockets on Friday, February 21st and Saturday, February 22nd. Saturday’s game is the Royals’ annual Pink in the Rink Night in support of the BC Cancer Foundation. Puck drop for all three games is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
