The Victoria Royals will look to bounce back from a challenging loss to the Lethbridge Hurricanes this past Tuesday, as they host the Seattle Thunderbirds in back-to-back games this weekend.
Despite holding the title of “reigning WHL Champions”, the Thunderbirds have been treading water in a tough U.S. Division. Their 11-9-1-1 record puts them fourth in their division and in the top Wild Card spot.
Royals look to reassert dominance at home
In the Royals’ previous two home games, they’ve suffered back-to-back losses. But despite those recent results, the Royals home record is still impressive (8-3-1-0) and they’ve averaged 4.6 goals per game.
Seattle has performed better on the road than at home, so the games – theoretically – should provide a tough, tight contest for both teams.
Friday is Downie Wenjack Fund Night
Tomorrow is @downiewenjack Night! Mike Downie, the CO-Founder of the Downie Wenjack Fund will be presented with this custom-painted goalie mask!
Tickets: https://t.co/pj2U1DLy7B pic.twitter.com/jcP13fX9Me
— Victoria Royals (@victoriaroyals) November 23, 2017
Friday’s game against the Seattle Thunderbirds will be Downie Wenjack Fund Night.
As part of the night, Mike Downie, the Co-Founder of the Downie & Wenjack Fund as well as the co-creator of the graphic novel and film, The Secret Path, will be in attendance. Downie, along with his late brother Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip and artist Jeff Lemire, created the graphic novel and film to tell the story of Chanie Wenjack, an Ojibway boy who died while running away from his residential school in October of 1966.
During Friday night’s game, a selection of Downie Wenjack Fund merchandise will be available for purchase at the Royals Team Store with 100% of the proceeds going to the Fund. Royals players will wear a special Downie Wenjack Fund sticker on the back of their helmets.
In a special pre-game ceremony, Mike Downie will be presented with a custom-painted goalie mask by local artist Travis Michael, who has painted all of the Royals’ goalie masks since 2014. Michael designed two identical masks for this night. The masks pay tribute to Gord Downie’s past as an artist and goalie as well as reflect the story of The Secret Path.
Victoria Royals & Seattle Thunderbirds Statistics Breakdown
Victoria Royals Home stats
- Record: 8-3-1-0
- Goals per game: 4.58
- Goals against per game: 3.75
- Power Play: 26.4% (19/72)
- Penalty Kill: 66.1% (39/59)
Seattle Thunderbirds Away stats
- Record: 6-3-1-1
- Goals per game: 3.36
- Goals against per game: 3.27
- Power Play: 30.2% (13/43)
- Penalty Kill: 83.0% (39/47)
Victoria Royals vs. Seattle Thunderbirds
- Where: Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
- When: Friday, November 24th
- Puck drop: 7:05pm
- Tickets: Grab ’em here!
Victoria Royals vs. Seattle Thunderbirds
- Where: Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
- When: Saturday, November 25th
- Puck drop: 7:05pm
- Tickets: Grab ’em here!
