Victoria Royals Season Preview

The 2019-2020 season for the Victoria Royals was positive. Featuring a veteran roster, the franchise had secured a playoff spot for the ninth straight season.

When play was shut down due to the global pandemic, Victoria sat in second place in the B.C. Division. The season took some by surprise, as many predicted the Royals missing the playoffs completely.

The off-season addition of overage forward Gary Haden paid off, as he led the team in goals scored with 25. Veteran forwards Tarun Fizer and Kaid Oliver took on larger roles with the club, producing 53 points (19G-34A) and 47 points (22G-25A), respectively.

Victoria made a serious move the day before the 2020 WHL Trade Deadline, acquiring Anaheim Ducks prospect Brayden Tracey and goaltender Adam Evanoff from the Moose Jaw Warriors. Tracey put up 23 points (7G-16A) in 24 games with the Royals. Evanoff, who replaced the injured Shane Farkas as starter, appeared in 23 games with Victoria, posting an 8-10-4-1 record, 3.56 goals-against average (GAA) and a 0.893 save percentage.

With the premature end of the season, graduating players Haden, Farkasa and Will Warm did not get to experience one last shot at a championship. In what was a unique scenario, all three players were new to the team last season but proved invaluable for its leadership and performance.

Longtime team president and general manager Cameron Hope also departed after eight seasons. Victoria looked internally for a replacement, and Dan Price took on the dual role of GM and head coach.

The Royals will feature a new and younger look in the 24-game 2021 season. However, Price feels his squad is ready to win now.

“It’s certainly not a situation where we’re just throwing the puck out and hoping for the best,” he said. “We’ve got a good balance of older and younger players that we believe are prepared to contribute and compete. Our intention is to win the B.C. Division.”

Forwards

Losses: Gary Haden (62 GP, 25 G, 30A, 55 PTS) to graduation. Phillip Schultz (46 GP, 16 G, 10A, 26 PTS) to pro, Rødovre Mighty Bulls. Kaid Oliver (51 GP, 22 G, 25 A, 47 PTS), Carson Miller (45 GP, 12 G, 16 A, 28 PTS), Sean Gulka (43 GP, 9 G, 8 A, 17 PTS)

Returning forwards with their 2019-20 stats:

* Stats were with the Victoria Royals and Moose Jaw Warriors

^ Stats were with the Lethbridge Hurricanes

This season the Royals will rely on their returning veterans to power the offense.

Brandon Culter is the overager among the forwards and has developed into a versatile and complete player.

“He (Culter) has really transitioned into a true 200-foot player in the league,” said Price of his veteran forward. “A player that can center on any line and can be moved to the wing. He’s really adept on the power play and he’s turned into a penalty killer as well.”

A potential top line of Tracey, Culter and new team captain Tarun Fizer is comparable to other teams’ best lines. After a successful rookie year, Swiss import Keanu Derungs will also push for top minutes.

Ty Yoder, Riley Gannon, Alex Bolshakov and first-year Royal Nick Dorrington will all see increased roles and ice time.

“We know that our older players can carry a tremendous load,” Price said. “But no player can play 30 minutes a game for 24 games in 48 days and expect to be at his best. We really need the older players to still carry a substantial load but also to know and trust that the younger players can play really important minutes to share the load.”

Price is confident in his young players. If icing such a young roster is a gamble, the Royals feel it is a low risk.

Young players up front include Cage Newans (’03), Matthew Hodson (’03), Trent Crane (’03) and Brayden Schuurman (’04), who all saw at least one game of action last year.

New faces Carter Dereniwsky (’04) and Tanner Scott (’04), selected in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft in the second round (39th overall ) and third round (48th overall) respectively, will look to get into their first WHL games.

“We’re going into a tremendous game density,” Price said. “The young players are really going to have an opportunity to develop because they’ll have all of those situations and all that ice time to operate in. But the expectation is that they contribute to winning.”

Defense

Losses: Will Warm (54 GP, 3 G, 13 A, 16 PTS) to graduation. Mitch Prowse (64 GP, 3 G, 30 A, 33 PTS), Jacob Herauf (52 GP, 3 G, 10 A, 13 PTS), Nolan Bentham (52 GP, 1 G, 2 a, 3 PTS), Ty Ettinger (7 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PTS).

Returning defensemen with their 2019-20 stats.

Victoria’s defense is the area that has seen the most change.

Matthew Smith is the leader of the group with 189 career WHL games played. The 20-year-old will complete his four-year junior career with Victoria.

“Matthew was drafted by the Royals and he’s been a career Royal,” said Price of Smith. “He cares deeply about his teammates and about the organization, and he’s improved every year that he’s been here. So, he’s really put himself in a position to not only contribute substantially this year but really lead the way for the defense.”

Noah Lamb is the only other defender returning from the 2019-20 season. In his second full year with the team, the Edmonton, AB, native will welcome the extra minutes and responsibility.

Moving from the forwards to defense this season is Graeme Bryks, offering experience and big-body presence on the back end.

“Graeme is a more veteran presence and a big strong athletic person,” said Price. “He’s got that combination of awareness, intelligence, athleticism and coachability that just fits so well within our D corps.”

Rounding out the defensive group are rookies Gannon Laroque (’03), Braden Smith (’03), Kalem Parker (’04), Luke Shipley (’04) and 2019 WHL Bantam Draft first-round pick Jason Spizawka (’04). Besides Laroque and Braden Smith, who had brief auditions last season, the young corps will be playing in their first WHL games.

Goalies

Loss: Shane Farkas (28 GP, 2.20 GAA, 0.929 Sv%, 18-7-1-0-3) to graduation.

Returning goalies with their 2019-20 stats:

* Stats were with the Victoria Royals and Moose Jaw Warriors

Acquired from the Moose Jaw Warriors last season, Adam Evanoff was brought in as veteran insurance to support one of the top goaltenders in the league, Shane Farkas. However, Farkas suffered an injury, and almost immediately Evanoff was called upon to carry the load.

Evanoff was returning from a serious injury himself, one that required offseason hip surgery in 2019. Now close to two years after that setback, the Penticton, B.C., native is primed for a big season.

He joined the Stockton Heat of the American Hockey League (AHL) on an Amateur Tryout Agreement earlier this spring. While he did not get into his first professional game, the chance to practice against pro shots was a plus.

“Adam is a proven No. 1 goaltender in the league,” said Price. “He provides a lot of stability at the goaltending position and great mentorship for the younger goalies coming up.”

Those young goalies include Connor Martin (’02) and Keegan Maddocks (’03). Although Evanoff is a workhorse, look for Martin and Maddocks to get some quality starts to help with their development.

Youth Movement

Considering the veteran lineup Victoria had when they last played, it is not unexpected to see a younger squad. Even without a shortened season, the club would have taken the path towards youth. It is fitting that in a season that will emphasize player development, the Royals are doing exactly that.

The young players will be called on to contribute, as the condensed schedule will call for everyone to be ready.

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