Victoria Royals knock off Kamloops Blazers to advance to second round of the playoffs

In another spirited bout between the Victoria Royals and Kamloops Blazers, the Royals secured the win by a score of 4-1 and successfully closed out the first round with a final series tally of 4-2!

With a roster missing two key players like Kody McDonald and Tanner Sidaway due to respective suspensions, the Royals needed to come into this game guns blazing – and that they did. In an incredible effort that saw Victoria’s team band together despite a number of player scratches, tonight’s game saw not only one.. but TWO separate panels of glass on ice in Kamloops’ arena completely shattered – talk about bringing the house down!

Despite the loss, the Kamloops Blazers and their Sandman Centre had a very impressive turnout this evening – over 5,000 fans attended game 6 tonight, and their 50/50 draw ended up with over $40,000 in the pot – not too shabby!

See also:

• A spirited win for the Victoria Royals tonight secures 3-2 series lead
• WHL announces Victoria Royals’ Kody McDonald suspended indefinitely
• Victoria Royals shutout Kamloops Blazers in first game of the playoffs

The Blazers saw a bit of a switch-up in the goaltending department by starting netminder Victoria-native Dylan Garand, who played 23:15 minutes of Saturday’s game and stopped all nine shots he faced. Only 4:14 into the first period, Victoria’s Doust flew onto the ice and threw a glass-shattering shoulder-on-shoulder hit on Kamloops’ Zary – literally!

Though the Blazers dominated in shots the first period, Royals’ Cutler opened the scoring midway through with a slick wrist-shot from points-leader Phillip Schultz – the first 20 seeing Victoria up 1-0 as a result.

Kamloops began the second with a delay-of-game penalty, and the Royals were able to capitalize on the man-advantage – Cutler earning his second of the game and bringing Victoria up 2-0.

But, wait.. halfway through the second twenty, the smashing game continued! What are the odds?

After yet another “minor delay”, both teams hit the ice once more. Kamloops’ Franklin earned himself a cross-checking penalty in the offensive-zone, and Victoria was able to maximize the powerplay with a goal by veteran Ralph Jarratt – the little rest did them well, if the three unanswered goals were any indication!

Royals’ Fizer was awarded a penalty shot after a hooking minor, and though he wasn’t able to get the goal on that one, Victoria went up to 4-0 with only 11 seconds remaining in the second by a slick shot by Carson Miller.

The third saw Blazers’ Dylan Ferguson starting, the Golden Knight’s draft pick coming in after Garand allowing 4 goals on 14 shots. Kamloops Blazers’ Centazzo got his team on the scoreboard in the last 5 minutes of the game, making it a final score of 4-1.

With tonight’s win, the second round matchup is confirmed as the Victoria Royals versus Western Division leaders the Vancouver Giants – the Giants have secured home-ice advantage, and the first two games of this series will be at the Langley Events Centre, happening on April 5th and April 6th respectively. You can watch these games live online!

You can check out round 2 series schedule is below!

Victoria Royals

• When:
  • Tuesday, April 9th at 7:05 p.m. – Vancouver Giants vs. Victoria Royals (next home game)
•  Where: Save On Foods Memorial Centre, 1925 Blanshard Street
• Tickets: Playoff tickets can be purchased in-person or online