Youth was served, in good measure, for both the Seattle Thunderbirds and Victoria Royals on Saturday.
Defenceman Ethan Bear from Ochapowace, Sask. — a rookie standout for the Thunderbirds last season as a 16-year-old — scored the winner at 2:20 of overtime as Seattle defeated Victoria 5-4 in a Western Hockey League exhibition game in Everett, Washington.
After dressing 10 rookies or aspirants the night before in a 1-0 loss to the Everett Silvertips, the Royals went with 12 rookies Saturday — goaltenders Michael Herringer and Evan Smith, defencemen Brayden Pachal and Ralph Jarratt and forwards Ryan Peckford, Kristian Ferletak, Jared Dmytriw, Matt Dykstra, Regan Nagy, Matthew Campese, Matthew Phillips and Keith Anderson.
Dmytriw and Campese came through with goals against Seattle.
“They [rookies] are going to get opportunities. Now is the time for them to take advantage of that,” said Royals head coach Dave Lowry.
“Our guys played hard and competed against a veteran-laden lineup. Some [younger] guys are playing themselves into a chance for a longer look, and that’s what we want.”
The Royals veterans were also heard from, with Victoria trailing 4-2 in the third period, when Brandon Fushimi and Mitch Skapski tied matters 4-4. Dmytriw’s and Skapski’s goals came on the power play as Victoria went two-for-six on the oddman. One of the Royals’ chief concerns heading into this season is potential offensive production and where it will come from. But that seemed to be answered to a degree with the four-goal output, on 33 shots, Saturday against the Thunderbirds after being shutout by the Silvertips the night before.
Lane Pederson, a 17-year-old rookie, led Seattle with a goal and four points.
The duel between Comox’s Herringer and Colorado’s Smith continued in the Victoria crease to decide who will backup incumbent Coleman Vollrath this season. Smith got the start Saturday and made 35 saves on a busy night. Herringer blocked 23 of 24 shots on Friday against Everett.
Lowry said both Smith and Herringer have looked “fine.”
Royals veterans Keegan Kanzig, Austin Carroll and Travis Brown didn’t make the trip to Everett. Brandon Magee is suspended while Axel Blomqvist is with the Swedish junior national team at the Four Nations tournament in Europe.
Victoria is coming off a season in which it set franchise records for wins [48] and points [100] while winning a first-ever playoff series.
The Royals conclude the opening WHL exhibition tournament in Everett with a game today against the Tri-City Americans.
Lowry alluded to the veterans not on this trip, when saying about today’s game: “We’ll be going young again.”
The Royals’ seven-game preseason continues next Saturday at UBC against the Kamloops Blazers.
