VICTORIA 3 KELOWNA 2
If the Kelowna Rockets could be compromised to this extent during the Western Hockey League regular season, there would be a lot more smiling faces on opposition benches.
The Rockets, ranked No. 5 among major-junior teams in North America, are missing 11 players to NHL rookie camps. That’s the third most of any WHL team behind the Portland Winterhawks’ 13 and Edmonton Oil Kings’12. The Victoria Royals, meanwhile, have six players at NHL training camps in what is the annual September dance in the WHL.
So the diluted exhibition game between the Royals and Rockets on Saturday night in Kelowna was reflective of very little. That’s not to say it wasn’t important for those aspiring younger players trying to crack both rosters.
Victoria defeated Kelowna 3-2 to end the exhibition campaign 2-3-2 while the Rockets finished 2-4. Those records come with the caveat that you can’t read much into exhibition games.
Rookie Jared Dmytriw scored his third goal of the pre-season for Victoria and rookie Matthew Campese and veteran Tyler Soy their second each, the latter pair’s coming on the power play as the Royals rallied from a 2-0 deficit Saturday.
Coleman Vollrath, the Royals No. 1 goalkeeper, went the distance for the second straight game and made 21 saves.
“We wanted a better effort . . . and made amends for Thursday [lacklustre 3-0 home loss to Vancouver],” said Royals head coach Dave Lowry.
It starts counting for real when the Royals open the regular season Friday in Kamloops against the Blazers. The players away at NHL camps are returned at the discretion of the pro clubs.
“Our mindset is the guys we have playing with us right now are the guys we have to get ready for next week,” said Lowry.
“If we get players back from NHL camps, that’s a bonus.”
