By Jesse Laufer
The Victoria Royals have started what will hopefully become a run to the 2016 Memorial Cup in Red Deer, AB.
As the Royals’ matchup for round two against the Kelowna Rockets was finalized, things started to get heated in Black Press newsrooms. Publishers of Greater Victoria newspapers — the Victoria News, Saanich News, and Oak Bay News have placed a friendly wager on the series’ outcome with the publisher of Kelowna-based Black Press paper, Capital News.
The bet is simple. If the Rockets manage to upset the best team in the WHL, publishers here will be forced to wear Kelowna Rockets jerseys for a day. But if the Royals take the series, Capital News publisher Karen Hill will get a royal blue style boost.
The Royals have home ice advantage in the series, and Black Press Greater Victoria associate group publisher Oliver Sommer knows that will be a big advantage. “Everyone knows the Royals have the best fans in the league,” he said. “Seven thousand of us will be there every night to see our guys on to the next round.”
Hill thinks otherwise. “Considering the intense series we just came through, I’m pretty confident they can upset the Royals.”
Royals GM Cameron Hope knows Kelowna can’t be under estimated.
“The biggest thing for us is we realize in their dressing room there’s at least a dozen players who’ve had the experience going to the Memorial Cup,” Hope said.
The second round of the WHL western conference playoffs kicked off Thursday at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. The puck for game two drops Saturday at 7:05 p.m.
Fans should check out victoriaroyals.com/playoffs for tickets.
To those lucky enough to get in on the action, don’t forget to wear black and blue to show your support.
The Victoria News also streams highlights online after the games are done. Go Royals!