For some people, the only consideration of ice in summer is a way to keep drinks cold. But the braintrust of the Victoria Royals is keeping busy putting things in place for the coming season.
General manager Cameron Hope, who half-joked on the day the Royals were eliminated from the Western Hockey League playoffs in April that he had already begun planning for next season, wasnB次元官网网址檛 exactly kidding.
Given that the team could have up to six 20-year-olds vying for three overage spots on the roster, some tough decisions might have to be made that could change the shape of this team.
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Last yearB次元官网网址檚 team captain, forward Matthew Phillips (Calgary), plus forwards Tanner Kaspick (St. Louis) and Lane Zablocki (Detroit) are vying to stick in the professional systems of the National Hockey League clubs that drafted them. But thereB次元官网网址檚 the off chance one or more of them might be returned to junior.
That chance, while seemingly slim given their development last season, puts a slight chill on things for the three undrafted 20-year-olds still on the roster: No. 1 goaltender Griffen Outhouse, forward Dante Hannoun and defenceman Ralph Jarratt. Hope calls them B次元官网网址渢he elder statesmen on this teamB次元官网网址� for their combined seasons with the Royals, which is 11.
B次元官网网址淪ometimes these things take care of themselves,B次元官网网址� the GM said of summer roster moves. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 when guys come back from the NHL club you know youB次元官网网址檝e got a really [tricky situation].B次元官网网址�
After being traded twice, nifty forward finds a fit with the Victoria Royals.
B次元官网网址� Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings)
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But such is life in the world of junior hockey. The constant aging out of players and upward movement of teamsB次元官网网址� stars makes for a regular turnover, from the WHL right down to junior B.
Speaking of the latter, one of the most recent acquisitions for the Royals is a player who spent time with the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey LeagueB次元官网网址檚 Westshore Wolves, homegrown product Tanner Sidaway, who also gives the team another potential drawing card.
The 1999-born forward and Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey alumnus was acquired from the Regina Pats for an eighth-round pick in the WHLB次元官网网址檚 2019 Bantam Draft.
ThatB次元官网网址檚 not a lot to give up from the RoyalsB次元官网网址� perspective, but Hope believes the possible upside with Sidaway is well worth it.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a guy that had the misfortune of being on a Memorial Cup team, a much older team with a lot of offensive weapons, so he could never be anything than a role player,B次元官网网址� Hope said, adding that players SidawayB次元官网网址檚 age often blossom.
B次元官网网址淎t 19 itB次元官网网址檚 time to show what you can do, you can potentially play more minutes and [take on] a bigger role.B次元官网网址�
Regardless of how the 20-year-old situation plays out, the Royals are sure to be a younger squad for their seventh season in Victoria.
B次元官网网址淥ur forward lines are up for grabs B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檇 say except for the first season, this is the first season where itB次元官网网址檚 not pencilled in,B次元官网网址� Hope said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 wide open.B次元官网网址�
Not only will returning Royals have every opportunity to show how much theyB次元官网网址檝e grown B次元官网网址� sometimes quite literally B次元官网网址� the club has other newcomers entering the mix.
Other recent acquisitions include 18-year-old forward Tyler Lees, who came over in a trade with Saskatoon; and rugged defenceman Brayden Gorda, received from Edmonton in a trade for a conditional pick in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft.
Lees, who was injured for much of last season, is a player the Royals had their eye on in bantam and are excited to see develop further, Hope said, while Gorda remains a question mark until he detrmines whether heB次元官网网址檚 heading to college for next season.
The on-ice activity gets underway later this month, with the Royals 10 drafted players arriving Aug. 21, rookie camp for 15 and 16 year olds getting going Aug. 23, then main camp kicking off Aug. 26. The Royals intersquad play happens on the 29th and from there, the roster will take shape quickly.
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B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be a really interesting year,B次元官网网址� Hope said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檒l be such an open field for young guys, so weB次元官网网址檙e excited to see what happens.B次元官网网址�
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