The Victoria Royals are back in full swing and on a tear after three years of fine tuning. As loyal fans rally behind the young men in black and blue, the team continues to focus on development and playing competitive games down the stretch.
Now ranked 3rd in the WHL Western Conference after winning eight of ten games in December, there are whispers of playoff contention in the near future. Without looking too far down the line, VP of Hockey Operations, Joseph Poljanowski, says the team is taking a business as usual approach as they focus on one game at a time.
“Every season comes with new challenges and adjustments. The credit goes to our players for managing the early season games. They believed in one another and they persevered,” Poljanowski says, “We don’t put a lot of weight into our position in the standings. It’s a competitive conference and we still have a lot of work to do. Our mindset is to continue coming to the rink and working hard every day to get better
As the skilled Victoria Royals roster continues to grow, so does the team’s fanbase. For the first time this season, on Dec. 30, the Royals played in front of a sold out home crowd of over 7,000 as they took the overtime win during a thrilling match against the Edmonton Oil Kings.
After a resurgence of support, the team is proud to be giving back not only through competitive games but fan experiences as well. Situated at the bottom of section 106, fans now have the opportunity to enjoy a different way to view the game through the 360 fan zone. The fan zone offers a private standing space at ice level, featuring a bar and buffet.
Additionally, the 360 comfort lounge - located between gates one and two - is opening up for all ticket holders in January and will eventually transition to a private lounge. When it comes to these two new additions, Poljanowski credits Victoria Royals ownership (GSL) and leadership from the business team for their continued efforts in growing the Royals local fan base through improved fan experiences.
“The investment from our ownership is so significant when it comes to these kinds of updates. Our goal as an organization is to provide a place that brings people together in unique ways,” says Poljanowski. “Our business team (led by Brett and Logan Halpenny, Joel Rinne and Paul Hanson) have done a tremendous job in bringing these big vision ideas to life for our fans.
Off the ice, the Royals have been making an effort to bring affordable hockey resources to youth in Greater Victoria that are looking for ways to get involved in the sport they love.
Founded 20 years ago by former WHL player Norm Flynn, H.E.R.O.S – the Hockey Education Reaching Out Society – helps empower marginalized and at-risk youth on and off the ice.
Sharing similar values, the Victoria Royals have partnered with HEROS Hockey, giving young players one-on-one training with Royals athletes passing on their knowledge to the next generation.
With a bright future ahead, the Royals want ticket holders to keep a few upcoming dates in mind.
As part of their annual campaign against cancer, the Royals will host their Pink in the Rink game on Feb. 2 against Seattle.
On Feb. 16 and 17, the Royals will support the Victoria Chinatown School Foundation with their Lunar New Year game against Kelowna.
To stay updated on Royals news, be sure to follow Victoria Royals via Facebook, Instagram and their website.