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Royals pick up WHL awards

Three members of the Victoria Royals have picked up WHL awards.

Three members of the Victoria Royals have picked up WHL awards.

Head coach Dave Lowry has won the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy after he was chosen as the league’s coach of the year for the second time in the last three seasons. Lowry is only the 11th coach in WHL history to have won the award two or more times.

Now in his fourth year with the club, Lowry guided the Royals to a WHL best 106 points and 50-16-3-3 record, along with the franchise’s first Scotty Munro Memorial trophy.

Victoria’s Tyler Soy was named most sportsmanlike player, and Matthew Phillips picked up rookie of the year.

Soy wrapped up the season second in team scoring with 85 points and only 27 minutes in penalties. He also led the team in goals with 46 and broke the Royals’ record for most markers in a single season.

Phillips finished the season first in points with 76 and 37 goals among all WHL rookies. He also finished in a tie for first in the league in game-winning goals (10) and tied for second in powerplay markers (16).

In addition, the Royals were recognized with the WHL marketing/business award. Victoria is one of nine franchises in the league to average attendance figues of more than 4,500 per game in each of the past five seasons.

The Royals season came to an end in the second round during Game 7 when they lost to the visiting Kelowna Rockets 3-2 in overtime.