The Victoria Royals dropped a 3-2 decision to the Kelowna Rockets on Friday night at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.
Victoria went a perfect 3/3=100.0% on the penalty kill tonight. In their last five games against the Rockets, the Royals have now successfully killed off 17 straight Kelowna powerplays. The Rockets’ last powerplay goal versus Victoria took place on November 6th at Prospera Place.
Putting Up Points: Tonight, Victoria’s Gary Haden and Phillip Schultz extended their point streaks to six and four games respectively. Haden has now recorded two goals and six assists during this span, while Schultz has tallied seven points (5g-2a). Haden’s streak set a Royals’ season-high for most consecutive games with a point.
In the Blue Paint: Royals’ affiliated goaltender Connor Martin played in his second consecutive WHL game tonight. The Calgary, AB product and has stopped 63 of the 68 shots he has faced in his young career. The 2002-born netminder was recalled from the Calgary Canucks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) on Tuesday and played in his first career game on Wednesday.
Back in the Line-Up: Forwards Tarun Fizer and Brayden Tracey returned to Victoria’s line-up in tonight’s game. Fizer had missed the previous four contests, while Tracey was away for three games. The Royals were still without injured forwards Sean Gulka, Graeme Bryks and Ty Yoder, along with defenceman Jacob Herauf and goaltender Shane Farkas. Carson Miller left tonight’s game and did not return.
Pink in the Rink: Victoria will battle the Kelowna Rockets tonight for their annual Pink in the Rink Night.Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m. A selection of Royals’ 2020 Pink in the Rink jerseys will be available via a post-game live auction, an in-game silent auction and an online auction with proceeds going to the BC Cancer Foundation and the Victoria Royals Scholarship and Education Fund.
