The Victoria Royals welcomed talented Swedish sniper Axel Blomqvist back to the lineup from injury on Friday and could add newly acquired 17-year-old Russian defenceman Marsel Ibragimov to the roster tonight in Medicine Hat.
Blomqvist had an assist as the Royals clawed back with three third-period goals for a 3-2 win in Calgary to snap the Hitmen’s three-game win streak.
The Royals — victors of two straight for the first time this season — benefited from Blomqvist’s return.
Logan Fisher, Tyler Soy and Austin Carroll came through with some much needed offence. Soy, who also had an assist, pounced on a loose puck off a Blomqvist wrap-around attempt midway through the third. The last two goals came on the power play.
Calgary had grabbed a 2-0 first-period advantage on a pair of goals from Nanaimo native Chase Lang.
“It wasn’t a great start, but it was a good finish,” said Royals head coach Dave Lowry. “We had no choice but to fight back. We needed to get back to work and play our game.”
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Victoria goaltender Coleman Vollrath, a Calgary native, was stellar in facing 29 shots, 12 in the opening period.
“Cole was good. He did what we ask of him, make that first save and give us a chance,” added Lowry.
Earlier in the day, the Royals (3-4-1-0) claimed Ibragimov off Western Hockey League import waivers from the Memorial Cup-champion Edmonton Oil Kings.
The Kazan, Russia, native — who was drafted by Edmonton in the 2014 Canadian Hockey League import draft — will hook up with his new team today as the Royals visit Medicine Hat at 6:30 p.m. in Game 2 of a six-game road trip.
“He’ll join us [today] and I don’t know when the coaching staff will implement him, but if not [today] then shortly afterward,” Royals general manager Cam Hope said of Ibragimov, who stands six-foot-two and weighs 200 pounds.
“Our [player development] guys say his development curve is ahead of where it should be for a 17-year-old his size,” Hope added of Ibragimov.
“His game is complete. He understands the game, has good mobility and has a good first pass. He’s a very intriguing player, too good to pass up,” added Hope. “We’re looking to him to be an important player for us the next couple of years.”
Ibragimov had played just one regular-season game for the Oil Kings this season prior to being scooped up by the Royals.
To make room, Hope had to place Slovakian forward Kristian Ferletak on import waivers. In seven games, Ferletak had no points.
Each WHL team can only carry two imports and Ibragimov joins Blomqvist as Victoria’s reps. Ibragimov became available as the Oil Kings go with Mads Eller and Edgars Kulda as imports. Both were on the 2014 Memorial Cup championship team.
