WHL

Victoria Royals’ Andrei Grishakov (centre in white) and Dino Kambeitz mix it up with Everett’s Jake Christiansen in Western Hockey League action. The Silvertips won both ends of the teams’ regular season-ending series, 8-1, Saturday in Victoria and 3-2 at home on Friday. Don Denton/Black Press

Royals gear up for WHL playoffs after suffering season-worst loss

Victoria has a solid 7-3 record this year against opening-round opponent Vancouver

Victoria Royals’ Andrei Grishakov (centre in white) and Dino Kambeitz mix it up with Everett’s Jake Christiansen in Western Hockey League action. The Silvertips won both ends of the teams’ regular season-ending series, 8-1, Saturday in Victoria and 3-2 at home on Friday. Don Denton/Black Press
Royals captain Matthew Phillips scored twice, including the winner Sunday in a 4-3 victory over Prince George at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. The Royals won 4-3 in overtime against the Cougars last Friday and have just two regular season Western Hockey League games remaining. Don Descoteau/Victoria News

Royals keep pace with Chiefs with weekend WHL wins

Pair of 4-3 wins over Prince George yield no better playoff position for Victoria

Royals captain Matthew Phillips scored twice, including the winner Sunday in a 4-3 victory over Prince George at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. The Royals won 4-3 in overtime against the Cougars last Friday and have just two regular season Western Hockey League games remaining. Don Descoteau/Victoria News
Victoria Royals’ forward Dante Hannoun takes on Spokane’s Dalton Hamaliuk during Western Hockey League action at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Tuesday night. Hannoun scored his 23rd goal and the Royals snapped a 3-3 tie in the third to win 7-3. The teams play here again Wednesday night. Don Descoteau/Victoria News

Royals shrug off pesky Chiefs in third period to win WHL matchup

Playoff race in Western Conference tightening up, Kelowna slumping

Victoria Royals’ forward Dante Hannoun takes on Spokane’s Dalton Hamaliuk during Western Hockey League action at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Tuesday night. Hannoun scored his 23rd goal and the Royals snapped a 3-3 tie in the third to win 7-3. The teams play here again Wednesday night. Don Descoteau/Victoria News
Victoria Royals captain Matthew Phillips (in white) and his teammates dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to Prince George last night and meet the Cougars in the Interior city again tonight. The single point in Western Hockey League action clinched a playoff berth for the Royals. Don Descoteau/Victoria News

Royals clinch WHL playoff spot with overtime loss in Prince George

Goaltenders duel at the CN Centre, Victoria plays P.G. Cougars again tonight

Victoria Royals captain Matthew Phillips (in white) and his teammates dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to Prince George last night and meet the Cougars in the Interior city again tonight. The single point in Western Hockey League action clinched a playoff berth for the Royals. Don Descoteau/Victoria News
Kole Lind has inked an entry level deal with the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks. (Photo by Marissa Baecker/Shoot the Breeze) *** Local Caption ***

BC WHL player signs with Canucks

Kelowna Rockets top scorer this season, Kole Lind, signs NHL entry level deal with Vancouver

Kole Lind has inked an entry level deal with the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks. (Photo by Marissa Baecker/Shoot the Breeze) *** Local Caption ***
Royals winger Dino Kambeitz races in on Vancouver Giants goalie Trent Miner during Saturday’s Western Hockey League game in Victoria. Kambeitz scored two goals, including the winner with 11 seconds to play, in a 4-3 victory. victoriaroyals.com

Thrilling finish to Royals weekend in Victoria

WHL club hosts Portland for a pair this Friday and Saturday at Save-On Centre

Royals winger Dino Kambeitz races in on Vancouver Giants goalie Trent Miner during Saturday’s Western Hockey League game in Victoria. Kambeitz scored two goals, including the winner with 11 seconds to play, in a 4-3 victory. victoriaroyals.com
Victoria Royals forward Tanner Kaspick scored twice in Wednesday’s 7-6 shootout loss to Edmonton at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. The Royals continue their Western Hockey League homestand with games against Red Deer on Friday and Vancouver on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. Spencer Pickles/Black Press

Win eludes WHL Royals for second time this week

Victoria opens homestand with 7-6 shootout loss to lowly Edmonton

Victoria Royals forward Tanner Kaspick scored twice in Wednesday’s 7-6 shootout loss to Edmonton at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. The Royals continue their Western Hockey League homestand with games against Red Deer on Friday and Vancouver on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. Spencer Pickles/Black Press
Royals forward Tyler Soy (17) awaits a pass in the slot against the Kelowna Rockets in Western Hockey League action Saturday in Victoria. The Royals won two of three long weekend games against the Rockets, who won 5-4 in Kelowna on Monday. Soy, who tallied eight points in three games last week, was named WHL On the Run Player of the Week. Don Descoteau/Victoria News

Sweep of Rockets not in cards for WHL Royals

Busy week ahead for Victoria hockey club, Royals at home for five straight

Royals forward Tyler Soy (17) awaits a pass in the slot against the Kelowna Rockets in Western Hockey League action Saturday in Victoria. The Royals won two of three long weekend games against the Rockets, who won 5-4 in Kelowna on Monday. Soy, who tallied eight points in three games last week, was named WHL On the Run Player of the Week. Don Descoteau/Victoria News
Tempers flare during third-period action between the Victoria Royals and Kelowna Rockets in Western Hockey League play at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. The Royals won 4-3 in overtime, following up a 6-1 win over the Rockets here the night before. Don Descoteau/Victoria News

Royals making noise as WHL heads toward home stretch

Victoria scores two home wins over front-running Rockets, teams meet in Kelowna Monday

Tempers flare during third-period action between the Victoria Royals and Kelowna Rockets in Western Hockey League play at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. The Royals won 4-3 in overtime, following up a 6-1 win over the Rockets here the night before. Don Descoteau/Victoria News
Victoria Royals’ equipment manager laces ‘em up

Victoria Royals’ equipment manager laces ‘em up

Matt Auerbach takes on Royals WHL goalie Dean McNabb in an on-ice duel

Victoria Royals’ equipment manager laces ‘em up
Royals face critical weekend ahead with three WHL games against Kelowna

Royals face critical weekend ahead with three WHL games against Kelowna

Victoria made the most of OT opportunities last weekend at home and in Seattle

Royals face critical weekend ahead with three WHL games against Kelowna
Victoria Royals forward Tanner Kaspick, playing the point on the power play, looks for a teammate to pass to during Sunday’s Western Hockey League game against Calgary at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. The Royals beat the Hitmen 7-3 in this game, after downing Calgary 4-1 here the night before. Spencer Pickles/Black Press

Big weekend for Victoria Royals pushes record to 8-2 in last 10 games

Victoria keeping pace with Kelowna

Victoria Royals forward Tanner Kaspick, playing the point on the power play, looks for a teammate to pass to during Sunday’s Western Hockey League game against Calgary at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. The Royals beat the Hitmen 7-3 in this game, after downing Calgary 4-1 here the night before. Spencer Pickles/Black Press
Victoria’s Matthew Smith (9) ties up the Rockets’ Carsen Twarynski in front of Royals goalie Griffen Outhouse during Saturday night Western Hockey league action in Kelowna. The Rockets used big first and third periods to score an 8-4 victory. Kevin Light/victoriaroyals.com

WHL winning streak ends at four in Kelowna for Victoria

Royals lose 8-4 as Rockets explode offensively

Victoria’s Matthew Smith (9) ties up the Rockets’ Carsen Twarynski in front of Royals goalie Griffen Outhouse during Saturday night Western Hockey league action in Kelowna. The Rockets used big first and third periods to score an 8-4 victory. Kevin Light/victoriaroyals.com
Vancouver’s Ty Ronning buzzes Victoria Royals goaltender Griffen Outhouse during Friday’s Western Hockey League game in Langley. Ronning scored twice, but the Royals won 4-3 in a shootout. Gary Ahuja/Black Press

Victoria wins crucial WHL contest over Giants in Langley

Royals take over second in B.C. Division ahead of Vancouver

Vancouver’s Ty Ronning buzzes Victoria Royals goaltender Griffen Outhouse during Friday’s Western Hockey League game in Langley. Ronning scored twice, but the Royals won 4-3 in a shootout. Gary Ahuja/Black Press
Vancouver Giants vs Victoria Royals, Langley Events Centre Jan. 19. Gary Ahuja Langley Times Vancouver’s Tyler Benson

GALLERY: Giants host Royals in WHL action

Photos from the Vancouver Giants clash with the Victoria Royals at the Langley Events Centre

Vancouver Giants vs Victoria Royals, Langley Events Centre Jan. 19. Gary Ahuja Langley Times Vancouver’s Tyler Benson
Victoria Royals forward Matthew Phillips (in blue), seen here in action against the Vancouver Giants, collected three points in a 4-2 Victoria win in Portland last night. The Royals travel to Langley to take on the Giants on Friday in a critical B.C. Division matchup. Don Descoteau/Victoria News

Late charge in Portland sees Victoria collect third straight WHL win

Matthew Phillips leads the way with three-point night in 4-2 win, Giants up next

Victoria Royals forward Matthew Phillips (in blue), seen here in action against the Vancouver Giants, collected three points in a 4-2 Victoria win in Portland last night. The Royals travel to Langley to take on the Giants on Friday in a critical B.C. Division matchup. Don Descoteau/Victoria News
Kamloops Blazers captain Nick Chyzowski, left, is checked by Victoria Royals forward Dino Kambeitz during Western Hockey League action at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Ironically, both Chyzowski’s father, Dave, and Kambeitz’s dad, Jim, played for Kamloops during their WHL careers. The Royals won both ends of last weekend’s doubleheader in Victoria, 6-5 Friday and 5-4 on Saturday. Don Denton/Black Press

Victoria hits the road after weekend wins over Kamloops

Western Hockey League club in Portland on Wednesday night

Kamloops Blazers captain Nick Chyzowski, left, is checked by Victoria Royals forward Dino Kambeitz during Western Hockey League action at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Ironically, both Chyzowski’s father, Dave, and Kambeitz’s dad, Jim, played for Kamloops during their WHL careers. The Royals won both ends of last weekend’s doubleheader in Victoria, 6-5 Friday and 5-4 on Saturday. Don Denton/Black Press
Tanner Kaspick hoists the Western Hockey League championship trophy in 2016 as a member of the Brandon Wheat Kings. The Kings’ captain this season, he was traded to the Victoria Royals at the WHL deadline this week. Facebook

Victoria gears up for deep WHL playoff run with deadline trades

Royals acquire a pair of gritty Western Hockey League veterans

Tanner Kaspick hoists the Western Hockey League championship trophy in 2016 as a member of the Brandon Wheat Kings. The Kings’ captain this season, he was traded to the Victoria Royals at the WHL deadline this week. Facebook
Victoria Royals’ Andrei Grishakov (centre), playing his first game since being traded from the Calgary Hitmen, checks Everett Silvertips’ Jake Christiansen, with the help of teammate Dino Kambeitz (25), during first-period WHL action at the Save On Foods Memorial Centre last Friday. The Royals won this game 5-0, beat the Blazers 5-4 in overtime in Kamloops Saturday, but lost 9-4 in Everett on Sunday. Don Denton/Victoria News photo

WHL Royals grab four of six points on weekend, still have room to grow

Newcomers make their mark in trio of weekend games for Victoria hockey club

Victoria Royals’ Andrei Grishakov (centre), playing his first game since being traded from the Calgary Hitmen, checks Everett Silvertips’ Jake Christiansen, with the help of teammate Dino Kambeitz (25), during first-period WHL action at the Save On Foods Memorial Centre last Friday. The Royals won this game 5-0, beat the Blazers 5-4 in overtime in Kamloops Saturday, but lost 9-4 in Everett on Sunday. Don Denton/Victoria News photo
Members of the Victoria Royals and Prince George battle for control at the Cougars net during second-period Western Hockey League action Wednesday at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. The Cougars came away with a 5-3 win, a loss that dropped the Royals out of top spot in the B.C. Division for the first time this season. Don Descoteau/Victoria News

Victoria drops fourth straight in WHL play

Christmas break no remedy for losing streak, now at four games

Members of the Victoria Royals and Prince George battle for control at the Cougars net during second-period Western Hockey League action Wednesday at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. The Cougars came away with a 5-3 win, a loss that dropped the Royals out of top spot in the B.C. Division for the first time this season. Don Descoteau/Victoria News