Change is inevitable in most things, but especially junior hockey, where turnover of players aging out or drafted into the NHL makes setting an opening day roster a challenge.
While they have little say in the matter, Victoria Royals management has left the beginning-of-season placement of three of the teamB次元官网网址檚 four drafted pro prospects in the hands of the NHL teams that own their rights. That, along with other factors, means roughly half of the Western Hockey League clubB次元官网网址檚 2018-19 roster is full of new faces.
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Head coach Dan Price, whose team opens the season with a home doubleheader against Prince George this Friday and Saturday (Sept. 21-22) at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, understands player turnover as well as anyone and is a proponent of the team-first, group chemistry philosophy for attaining success.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about the quality of the group and what they can do together,B次元官网网址� he said, not about what certain individuals could do for the team.
He bristles at the notion the Royals are rebuilding, having likely lost key forwards Matthew Phillips, Tanner Kaspick and Lane Zablocki to the pros. Instead he points to the strengths of those players epected to suit up in Victoria.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a tight group; theyB次元官网网址檙e fast, theyB次元官网网址檙e tenacious, tons of energy B次元官网网址� we have great leadership and great youth coming in as well,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 just looking most forward to puck drop on Friday.B次元官网网址�
The three 20-year-olds, forward , goaltender and defenceman , are doing an B次元官网网址渆xceptional jobB次元官网网址� leading the way, Price added. But younger players have also stepped up B次元官网网址� six wore a captainB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址楢B次元官网网址� in the pre-season B次元官网网址� to share in a leadership capacity.
Price sees a couple of patterns emerging in this group: cohesiveness and team speed.
B次元官网网址淭heir ability already at an early point in the season to play as a group of five B次元官网网址� to attack as a group, to defend as a group, has been exceptional,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 really see our success coming from a co-ordinated effort as opposed to one or two players making plays.B次元官网网址�
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Second-year right winger expects a fast-paced, close game Friday when Victoria meets the Cougars, whose 3-2 win on Sept. 9 was the RoyalsB次元官网网址� only loss in five pre-season games. While both clubs have much different lineups than last season, he likes the look of his team.
B次元官网网址淲e have a very special group here, very talented and young,B次元官网网址� he said.
Having faced B.C. Division opponents Kamloops, Kelowna, Vancouver and the Cougars in the pre-season, Price expects divisional play this year to feature a lot of speed and physicality on the forecheck.
The trimmed-down 68-game WHL season sees the Royals play B.C. opponents 36 times.
Pre-season provided promising results
Some highlights from the Royals pre-season action:
B次元官网网址� Third-year WHLer was a cyclone, leading the team and the WHL in pre-season scoring (5GB次元官网网址�5A), while posting a team-high 18 shots on goal in five games
B次元官网网址� Rookie centre and Denmark native (4GB次元官网网址�1A) and fellow Royals newcomer (1GB次元官网网址�4A) rounded out the top three, while Fizer notched three goals in two games
B次元官网网址� The Royals six goalies in training camp collectively posted a 2.75 goals against average in five games.
Game times Friday and Saturday are 7:05 p.m. For tickets, visit , call 250-220-7777 or drop by the Select Your Tickets box office at the arena Monday through Saturday.
