VICTORIA 4 KOOTENAY 0
Even after Brandon Magee was slapped with a 12-game suspension to start the 2014-15 Western Hockey League season because of his actions in the Victoria Royals’ final playoff game last spring, the team did not hesitate in welcoming back its defending scoring champion as one of the club’s three 20-year-olds.
Magee showed why on Saturday in his return after serving the 12 games in purgatory. The Edmonton native set up two goals, by Brandon Fushimi and Winnipeg Jets NHL-signed Axel Blomqvist, within 15 seconds late in the second period to give Victoria a 3-0 lead in a 4-0 victory over the Kootenay Ice (3-7) before 2,042 fans in Cranbrook.
“The game turned on that one shift, and Brandon was directly responsible for it,” said Royals coach Dave Lowry, whose club moved to 6-6-1.
Coleman Vollrath recorded the clean sheet with 27 saves, easing any angst that may have been building regarding the Victoria crease.
“Coleman had two [solid] back-to-back games [including the 4-2 win Friday in Lethbridge] and that’s what he needed,” Lowry said.
Defenceman Travis Brown’s third goal of the season gave Victoria the lead on the power play in the first period. Logan Fisher put the issue out of doubt in the third period as Victoria concluded its road swing through the Central Division of the Eastern Conference with a 4-2 record.
The game was expected to feature the compelling WHL return of Swiss forward Tim Bozon, who recovered from being in a coma and near death in March due to an attack of meningitis. Bozon was returned to Kootenay earlier in the week from an extended pro stay with the Montreal Canadiens’ AHL affiliate in Hamilton but did not play Saturday because of a day-to-day injury.
Victoria returns for games Friday and next Saturday against the Vancouver Giants at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
