Royals’ Phillips named a first-team all-star, Nanaimo’s Bajkov takes second-team honours

Matt Phillips of the Victoria Royals has been named a WHL Western Conference first-team all-star for the second straight year. Photo courtesy Times Colonist.

For the second straight season, Victoria Royals’ forward Matthew Phillips has been named to the Western Hockey League’s Western Conference First All-Star team.

Phillips is coming off a 2017-18 campaign where he registered 48 goals and 64 assists for 112 points to set a single-season franchise record for points.

Phillips finished fifth overall in WHL scoring.

The native of Calgary has increased his point production in each of his three seasons in the WHL, with 76 in his rookie campaign two years ago to 90 last season.

Phillips reached the 50 goal mark in 2016-17.

Nanaimo’s Patrick Bajkov is a second-team all-star for the Western Conference after scoring 33 goals and posting 100 points for the U.S. Division champion Everett Silvertips.

Bajkov is in his final season of junior eligibility and finished his WHL regular season career with 288 points in 342 games over five years.

Bajkov established career highs in goals, assists and points this season.

Both players are getting set for the start of the WHL playoffs Friday.

Phillips and the Royals host the Vancouver Giants for game one of their best-of-seven western conference first-round series Friday night at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.

Bajkov and the Silvertips will take on the reigning WHL champion Seattle Thunderbirds in the opening round.

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