From all reports, a weekend team-building exercise up Island went well for the Victoria Royals.
With no pre-season games left before this FridayB次元官网网址檚 (Sept. 22) regular season Western Hockey League opener against the Vancouver Giants at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, the Royals are itching to hit the ice running, so to speak.
First-year head coach Dan Price, who credits his predecessor Dave Lowry for some of his personal growth as a coach, likes what he sees in this new version of the team, with a good mix of veterans and first-year players who are buying in to the concept of B次元官网网址淩oyals hockey.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭he depth we have is tremendous,B次元官网网址� says Price, who isnB次元官网网址檛 even including in the mix his three star players still at NHL camps B次元官网网址� Chaz Redekopp with the Los Angeles Kings, and forwards Matthew Phillips with Calgary and Tyler Soy with Anaheim. Defenceman Scott Walford is back from MontrealB次元官网网址檚 camp.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got versatility within each position as well. WeB次元官网网址檝e got defencemen who can defend but also lead the rush and be involved in the offence; forwards who can attack, of course, but can also defend down low in our zone, and who can penalty kill just as well as they play on the power play.
B次元官网网址淎s a coach thatB次元官网网址檚 a really nice asset to have or group of assets to have, we can deploy players in different situations based on what the situation calls for and allows you to play any type of game, up-tempo, more of a checking game, or a transition game.B次元官网网址�
Third-year Royals blueliner Walford, a third-round pick by the Habs in the 2017 entry draft (68th overall), agrees with PriceB次元官网网址檚 sizing up of the team.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of things to like,B次元官网网址� Walford says. B次元官网网址淔irst and foremost, our team is very close. WeB次元官网网址檙e a tight-knit group of guys in the room and we all want to go out and there and play for each other and battle for each other and when you can do that, anythingB次元官网网址檚 possible.B次元官网网址�
Walford likes not only the skill this team features, but the versatility through the lineup.
B次元官网网址淓veryone brings something different. ItB次元官网网址檚 not a lot of one-dimensional players, a lot of guys can do different things and weB次元官网网址檙e starting to really buy into the system that our coach has put in place for us B次元官网网址� WeB次元官网网址檙e all just really excited about that home opener.B次元官网网址�
Royals Fans, get your Home Opener tickets today! Visit
B次元官网网址� Victoria Royals (@victoriaroyals)
Ask Price to define B次元官网网址淩oyals hockeyB次元官网网址� and he doesnB次元官网网址檛 hesitate: B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 speed with the puck, speed without the puck, speed of transition, pace of play in the offensive zone. But also speed defensively as well, closing quickly to defend, getting the puck back as quickly as possible, being physical and tenacious, playing the whole game 200 feet up and down the ice and supporting each other as teammates, too. WeB次元官网网址檙e just trying to continue that and not change anything and keep growing it from there.B次元官网网址�
Personally, he says, thereB次元官网网址檚 been B次元官网网址渧ery littleB次元官网网址� adjustment going from being an assistant under Lowry to running the show.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not to say that itB次元官网网址檚 not hard work, it is, but the support from Cam [general manager Hope] and his entire staff, the support from Dave and the training and education we got from him every day last year really has helped us all prepare for this transition.B次元官网网址�
The leadership group among the players and the experienced coaching staff have made things more smooth, he adds. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 absolutely a world-class staff, thatB次元官网网址檚 not an exaggeration. IB次元官网网址檓 just the beneficiary of having amazing people around me.B次元官网网址�
Last season at a glance:
Regular season record B次元官网网址� 37-29-5-1 (fourth, B.C. Division)
Playoff record B次元官网网址� (Lost first round, 4-2 to Everett)
Top scoring forward B次元官网网址� Matthew Phillips (50G 40A 90 Pts)
Top scoring defenceman B次元官网网址� Chaz Redekopp (10G 33A 43 Pts)
Head to head record against Vancouver: Eight wins, two losses
