One of the big issues facing the Victoria Royals for the upcoming Western Hockey League season revolves around the question of where the goal production will be coming from on a team built around a defensive ethos.
American forwards Ben Walker and Logan Nelson have graduated. Florida Panthers-signed forward Steven Hodges’ WHL rights were dealt by the Royals to the Tri City Americans for a conditional bantam draft pick on the calculated assumption he will be playing pro this season.
Forward Tyler Soy, 17, seems ready to answer the call. He hasn’t looked back since recording two goals and six points in five tournament games in helping lead Canada to the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Under-18 championship earlier this month in the Czech Republic. Soy continued his soaring pace by notching a hat-trick in Wednesday night’s Royals’ intra-squad game at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
“The [Canada U-18 international win] was a good experience to have this summer… and I’m feeling really good out there in training camp,” said Soy, as the Royals prepared to depart for the WHL pre-season opening tournament in Everett, Washington, with games tonight against the Silvertips, Saturday against the Seattle Thunderbirds and Sunday against Tri City Americans.
“I definitely feel I’m a better player because of the international experience over the summer,” added the five-foot-11 centre from Cloverdale, who had 15 goals and 30 points as a WHL rookie last season for the Royals.
“I’m definitely looking forward to the season. I can’t wait.”
While Soy made the Royals last season, fellow 1997-born forwards Matthew Campese, Regan Nagy and Matthew Dykstra were sent back to Midget. The question now is whether Campese, Nagy and Dykstra are ready to join fellow 17-year-old Soy as Royals regulars. Campese, with three goals, and Nagy especially showed flashes of speed and skill Wednesday in the intra-squad game.
“I know there’s lots of nerves happening [on the eve of the pre-season], especially if you’re trying out for the team,” said an empathetic Soy.
Making the team is not something Soy has to worry about.
