The Victoria Royals have successfully navigated their first trade deadline under new management, executing two trades to strengthen the roster for the upcoming home stretch and playoffs.
The Royals (23-14-2-2), currently holding the second position in the BC Division and fifth in the Western Conference, are on the verge of securing a postseason berth for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
Surpassing expectations, the team has contributed to the gradual resurgence of the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, reminiscent of the lively atmosphere that characterized the barn on Blanshard back in the 2010s.
With that, comes the temptation to swing for the fences and give the group a jolt in the form a of a top defenseman or a star forward.
But not so fast.
“We have a plan and we’re going to follow and continue to follow that plan,” Associate GM Jake Heisinger told Victoria Buzz over the phone. “Moving out any high draft picks wasn’t something we were considering.”
While it’s gratifying to see the team’s improved play, the message from management emphasizes the creation of a sustainable winner, rather than recklessly using draft picks just to make a splash.
That makes the Royals trade deadline acquisitions look pretty decent.
Royals make meaningful additions for fringe draft capital
The trade deadline for the Royals encompassed two transactions, bringing in defenceman Jaren Brinson back on January 6th, and acquiring overaged forward Tyson Laventure on deadline day itself.
Brinson, a six foot two, 19-year-old defenseman, was acquired for a 2025 6th rounder and a 2027 9th round pick, while Laventure was brought in for a 5th round choice in 2026.
With these additions, the Royals bolster their defensive depth while they deal with injuries to Hudson Bjornson and Nate Misskey.
Additionally, they introduce a top-six forward to alleviate the impact of losing top-line center Robin Sapousek, who sustained an injury while representing Czechia at the World Juniors.
Sapousek is week-to-week, while Misskey is still being evaluated after being injured Tuesday in Brandon.
“[Sapousek] is a huge part of our team,” Heisinger said. “We felt that, in the meantime, if there was something that was available that would continue to help our offence we were going to look at it.”
The opportunity presented itself on deadline day with the acquisition of Laventure. He’s a big, six-foot-three winger who has tallied 15 goals and 36 points in 39 games this season, instantly tying him for the team lead in goals and placing him third on the team in points.
“He can contribute offensively in all areas and he’ll really help our power play as well,” Heisinger said. “He’s a really skilled player that can create offense… but at the same time we have to keep in mind the big picture and it made sense on both fronts.”
Taking a broader, big-picture perspective, this move appears to be a good one, especially considering it only required the Royals to part with a fifth-round draft choice.
Comparable overaged players like Dylan Sydor and Sean Tschigerl, boast similar statistical profiles to Laventure (they have 19 goals and roughly a point per game) and were acquired by Lethbridge for both 2nd and 3rd round picks.
That’s premium draft capital, and the Royals avoided spending that while still making meaningful improvements to the roster.
Brinson, meanwhile, adds another big defenseman to the squad while providing a veteran presence. And when you’re anticipating playoff hockey, you can never have too much size on the blueline.
“He’s a veteran defenceman, he’s played a lot of games in the league, [and will] help stabilize things on the blue line,” Heisinger said. “He’s a guy that’s played a lot of minutes in the league and we feel comfortable [that he’s a] guy that can take on some minutes.”
He’s also a defenseman born in 2004, and with his acquisition, the Royals now have four players born in 2004 to consider for next season’s group of overaged players.
Heisinger praises team’s ‘no quit’ attitude
The standout element on the ice for this year’s Royals, in contrast to the past few seasons, has been an improved defensive group, a reliable top line in Scott-Sapousek-Newman that excels in all situations, and the contributions of skilled, plus-skating players like Cole Reschny, Dawson Pasternak, and Ben Riche, who play a significant role in the team’s ability to execute plays in transition and off the rush.
However, a significant amount of hockey happens between the ears, and traits like confidence, work ethic, and resilience don’t end up on the scoresheet.
This could be one of the more underrated aspects of the franchise’s turnaround this year. The team has consistently shown perseverance.
As a fan, there’s nothing better than watching a team stick to its identity regardless of the score, and persistently grind away without cheating for offence.
That’s what head coach James Patrick and his Royals have been able to do all year.
“I think the team has shown a no quit attitude, the team has been resilient, and we’ve played in a lot of close games and found a way in a lot of those games to scratch and claw our way to either a victory or to at least get a point out of it,” Heisinger said.
That was epitomized brilliantly in a game against Tri-City back on December 16th when the Royals found themselves trailing by three goals in the first period. The Royals scored with 6 seconds left in the first to make it 3-1, then outshot the Americans 16-4 in the 2nd period, scored three goals, and held on to secure the win 4-3.
A few weeks later, in games against Edmonton and Calgary around the new year, a similar script unfolded.
The Royals trailed in both games in the third period but didn’t stop battling. Against Edmonton, the team erased a one-goal deficit and eventually won on a Justin Kipkie overtime winner.
Against Calgary, Victoria was down by two goals with 12 minutes to play before tying it up and ultimately sending the sold-out Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre into a frenzy with a — who else — Justin Kipkie overtime winner.
Those two games seemed to be heading towards zero points, but the boys in black ‘n’ blue stuck to it and somehow turned it into four. It hasn’t been uncommon.
That’s part of why it remained nearly impossible for management not to support the team and send reinforcements. The Royals have stuck together regardless of the score line, a trait that will help the team mightily down the stretch and into the playoffs.
It doesn’t hurt either that the Royals brought in a 19 and 20 year old, given the team’s core is generally comprised of 17 and 18 year old players.
“[Some of our] older players have been around the league and played a number of games and they know it’s only going to get harder,” Heisinger said. “They’re going to be important for the younger guys to look up to and see how much harder it gets and the level of intensity that the 2nd half brings as you make your way closer to the playoffs.”
For the Royals, younger players such as Reschny, Seth Fryer, Escalus Burlock, and Jayden Kraus will get valuable experience playing intense games with points and playoffs on the line—something the Royals older homegrown players didn’t get to experience at 16 or 17.
Experience always helps.
For the fans, it means that the Barn on Blanshard is slowly making its way back to becoming the place to be again, and the final three months of the season should hold plenty of fun in store.
The Royals are back home in late January
The Royals are currently out east for their Saskatchewan/Manitoba road trip, a five game swing that will wrap up against the league leading Saskatoon Blades this Saturday.
So far they’re 0-1-2-0 on the trip.
Then they’re back in town for two consecutive Saturday-Sunday home sets.
They’ll face the Kamloops Blazers January 20th and 21th, while hosting the Vancouver Giants January 27th and 28th.
You can get tickets here.
