It was the end of an era as the players of the Victoria Royals left the ice for what would be the very last time this season Thursday.
After a difficult second-round exit from the WHL playoffs following a loss against the Vancouver Giants, for Royals fans, the emotion didn’t stop there – it was also the last year on the team for Victoria’s three 20-year olds, Griffen Outhouse, Ralph Jarratt, and Kody Mcdonald.
Despite knowing the impending loss was coming, losing the “three 20’s” as they were dubbed didn’t come any easier to the hockey club.
See also:
- Vancouver Giants eliminate Victoria Royals from WHL playoffs in second round
- WHL announces Victoria Royals’ Kody McDonald suspended indefinitely
“As much fun as I had playing hockey, the best memories were made away from the rink,” said veteran goaltender Outhouse in an interview with Victoria Buzz on Friday.
Griffen Outhouse broke countless records for the Royals, and remains the winningest goalie in the club’s franchise history.
When asked what his off-season plans were, Ralph Jarratt told us, “Not really too sure; I think the only thing that’s for sure is my dad will be putting me to work when I get home [in home renovations]”.
Jarratt began and ended his WHL career with the Royals, with a total of 268 games played with the team.
Kody McDonald on what he’ll miss most about playing in Victoria, “Definitely the nice weather, that’s for sure,” he said during post-season media availability. Also, “Coming here, it was tough for sure, but it’s a good group of guys here.. and the fan-base as well.”
McDonald actually came to Victoria from Prince Albert midway through this past season, and unfortunately sat the team’s last game out due to a suspension.
General Manager of the Royals Cameron Hope, as well as their head coach Dan Price also addressed the media today in the team’s end of season availability, which accompanied the players’ locker room clean-out.
GM Cameron Hope is addressing local media at the start of our locker clean out day. pic.twitter.com/xLpvWc5MAz
— Victoria Royals (@victoriaroyals) April 12, 2019
Dan Price spoke to Victoria Buzz on the emotion of the Royals’ most recent playoff run, and the feel of the locker room after the loss last night, “It was definitely very quiet, and there was some heaviness there because of that deep emotion; partly from the loss, and more from the realization that they [team] won’t ever be together again as a group.”
On what Royals fans can expect from the team’s off season, Cameron Hope told us, “It’s like every off-season; we will sit down as an organization and have meetings, there will be a little bit of movement in the off-season in terms of filling holes, but right now it’s too early to tell.”
What an amazing group of 20’s we had this year! Congrats on spectacular junior careers, Griffen, Ralph, and Kody! We can’t begin to express the impact that you made on this franchise both on and off the ice. We wish you nothing but the best! pic.twitter.com/jP5nTw6sJN
— Victoria Royals (@victoriaroyals) April 12, 2019
In all of this, there is one thing that is for sure – the Victoria Royals are seeing three very fine young men moving on to the next chapter of life, and each one of them will be thoroughly missed – on and off the ice.
