WATCH: A two point night from Tanner Kaspick and a timely goal from Jeff de Wit lifted the Victoria Royals over the Kamloops Blazers 6-5 at the Save On Foods Memorial Centre last night.
The Royals jumped out of the gates, Dante Hannoun would score just 1:29 into the game, and only a minute later, Hannoun would add his second of the night off a nice pass from captain Matthew Phillips.
The Royals would carry a 3-1 lead heading into the second period, but they would see their lead vanish in the middle frame. Orrin Centazzo and Carson Denomie would score for Kamloops to send the game into the third period, deadlocked at three goals a piece.
The Royals would open the scoring early in the third, Mitchell Prowse’s point shot squeaks through Blazers’ netminder Dylan Ferguson, and the Royals were once again in front.
Jeff de Wit would score from a bad angle just a minute later, and newcomer Tanner Kaspick would score the empty netter.
Despite a late rally from the visitors, the Royals would hang on for the 6-5 win.
“There’s some things we can do detail wise, fundamental wise that will hopefully allow us to keep better control of the game,” Royals head coach Dan Price says, “but the good news is that we were able to learn those lessons tonight, how to do those things, especially for the new players coming in as well and that really helps you as a team going forward, you need to be able to play in those situations so that’s very valuable experience tonight.”
“I thought it was a lot of fun,” Royals newcomer Tanner Kaspick says, “I thought we came out strong, kinda let off a bit in the second period there but kinda rallied in the third there and it was nice to get the first one.”
The Royals and Blazers do battle once more tonight at the Save on Foods Memorial Centre, and it’s country night, so get out your cowboy hats.
Tyler Bennett
