A pre-game mix-up caught the Portland Winterhawks in a kind of no-man’s land outside their dressing room door as they missed the national anthems. When they did find their way out to the ice, things didn’t go much better for them Friday night at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre
The Victoria Royals turned in a comprehensive performance in beating the Winterhawks 4-1 to open the 2015-16 Western Hockey League season before 6,627 fans.
It was the first season opener at home in the five years since the franchise has been on the Island. The Royals have previously twice each opened in Vancouver and Kamloops, with Victoria going 2-2 in those games.
The first period ended in whiplash fashion with Portland forward Alex Schoenborn hitting the post, followed by Victoria’s Alex Forsberg taking the puck the other way on a two-on-one and feeding Jack Walker for the season-opening goal with just 1.3 seconds remaining before the break.
“That was a big goal and gave us momentum going into the second period,” said Walker, who returned this week from Minnesota Wild NHL camp.
“Alex [Forsberg] shows a lot of patience. He is fun to play with.”
Another fine assist from Forsberg, this one backhanded from the side boards, sent Russian import Vladimir Bobylev in all alone for the 2-0 lead at 2:19 of the second period.
“It was nice to see [Bobylev] get going,” said Forsberg.
The 20-year-old Forsberg had three assists on the night and was the game’s first star.
“He is an intelligent player who creates a lot of offence,” said Royals head coach Dave Lowry.
“We need our older guys to step up like that.”
Five-foot-six rookie forward Matthew Phillips, who co-led the Royals in pre-season scoring with four goals and three assists for seven points in seven games, was rewarded with a spot on the power play on opening night. So too another diminutive, but darting, forward and five-foot-five Dante Hannoun made it 3-0 on the odd man at 7:18 of the second period on an assist from Forsberg.
That was followed by Ryan Peckford extending the lead to four goals by staying with a Hannoun rebound at 15:24 for his first career WHL goal.
Carl Ericson ended Coleman Vollrath’s shutout bid at 13:10 of the third period as Portland began to assert itself in the final phases of the game. That was a warning.
“You can’t read too much into this [first win],” said Forsberg.
“It’s going to be a different game tomorrow.”
Vollrath finished with 21 saves in the Victoria crease. Griffen Outhouse was dressed in reserve while six-foot-six Nashville Predators NHL draft pick Evan Smith sat out. Michael Bullion made 23 saves for Portland.
The Victoria power play went 1-6. The Royals clamped down and held the Winterhawks power play to 0-5.
Royals forward Ethan Price faced his old Portland club and was a bit of a target, mixing it up with Keoni Texeira with off-setting roughing minors in the second period.
Defenceman Joe Hicketts captained the Royals with blue-liners Ryan Gagnon, Chaz Reddekopp and forward Logan Fisher taking on the assistant captain roles.
Victoria and Portland meet again tonight on Blanshard in an opening stretch in which the Royals play six consecutive home games.
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