VICTORIA 2
VANCOUVER 1
The NHL-drafted players in the Western Hockey League — including four from the Victoria Royals — are about to depart to their pro training camps.
NHL camps are starting later this year because of the World Cup, and younger hopefuls might be kept longer in pro camps because of players the NHL organizations are missing due to international commitments in the World Cup.
That, in turn, represents plenty of upcoming ice time for prospective hopefuls in the WHL.
“It’s no different than when chances come up for other players because of injuries,” noted Victoria head coach Dave Lowry.
The Royals moved to 3-1 in the WHL pre-season with a 2-1 shootout victory over the Vancouver Giants before a sparse crowd Saturday afternoon at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
Ethan Price, on a pass from defenceman Marsel Ibragimov, scored in regulation time for Victoria. Price and Ibragimov are returnees as both the Royals and Giants went veteran-heavy by each dressing 15 vets and five rookies. Among the veterans skating was Giants captain Tyler Benson, the 32nd overall selection in the 2016 NHL draft, taken early in the second round by his hometown Edmonton Oilers.
“With guys about to be gone to pro camps, the rest of us [returnees] have to step up big and be smart and be the leaders,” said Price.
“We just have to be ourselves,” he added, of a large returning group from last season’s WHL regular-season champion Royals.
Newcomer Gunnar Wegleitner and veteran Jack Walker scored for the Royals in the shootout. But the story of the exhibition game Saturday was Victoria returning goaltender Griffen Outhouse, who stopped 39 shots in regulation time, and then stymied the Giants on both their shootout attempts.
After touching Outhouse early, with a goal by James Malm just 1:21 into the game, the Giants could not solve Outhouse despite pressing all game.
“I’m 18 and still have to prove I can be that guy [day-to-day starter] in this league,” said Outhouse.
“I am going to work as hard as I can. Coleman [Vollrath] taught me a lot last year.”
Outhouse was the understudy to last season’s starter, Vollrath, who has graduated and is now in the CIS with his hometown University of Calgary Dinos. Outhouse looks ready to assume Vollrath’s mantle. So much so he will almost certainly be in the crease discussions for the 2017 NHL draft.
“Everybody wants to get drafted, of course, but that’s not what I am focused on,” Outhouse said.
“I am only focused on the moment.”
Which is probably a wise thing for a goaltender.
“[Outhouse] wants to be in the net [as the starter]. That’s what you want in a goalkeeper,” said Lowry.
The Royals put 32 shots on Vancouver’s Ryan Kubic.
The Royals and Giants meet again this afternoon in Ladner. The same two clubs close out the pre-season next Saturday in Langley.
“This is a good physical rivalry,” said Price.
The drafted Royals headed soon to NHL camps are Walker (Toronto Maple Leafs), Tyler Soy [Anaheim Ducks], Chaz Reddekopp (L.A. Kings) and Matthew Phillips (Calgary Flames).
