Logan Nelson, Ben Walker and Jordan Fransoo stepped off the Victoria Royals bus for the last time Friday behind Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
Locker clear-out day in the Western Hockey League is always hardest on the graduating 20-year-olds. This was the first graduating class of true Royals — neither of the three had any connection to the Chilliwack Bruins years, either as a player or bantam draft pick. They all came to the franchise after it moved to Victoria in 2011-12, Nelson and Walker as free-agent signings from Minnesota and Fransoo in the mid-season trade for Kevin Sundher.
Their junior careers ended Thursday in Portland in the Game 5 loss to the starry Winterhawks in the Western Conference semifinal. Neither has any solid pro leads at this moment, even though Nelson was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres but is not yet signed.
“Growing up with college [NCAA] hockey in Minnesota, I never though I would come to Canada to play. I didn’t even know where Victoria was … but it’s been a great three years,” said Walker.
About the chances of starting off in the minor-pro AHL or ECHL next season and working up, Walker said: “Time will tell.”
Nelson said he is proud of what the Royals accomplished in setting franchise records for wins (48) and points (100) this season while making it to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
“We ran into a Portland team that has a high-powered offence with some guys who are going to have careers in the NHL,” he said.
About his own pro prospects, Nelson said he hasn’t heard from the Sabres yet: “I’ll take it day-to-day, week to week at this point.”
Fransoo graduates as the Royals’ 2013-14 captain.
“It’s an emotional time … it’s tough to see things end,” he said. “But then you reflect back on the positives and you realize it’s been good. We grew together as a group.”
Next year’s three 20-year-olds will come from a Royals 19-year-old contingent of some ability and that includes team points leader Brandon Magee, goals leader Austin Carroll, Florida Panthers third-round draft pick Steven Hodges, Blackhawks fifth-round pick Travis Brown, useful blue-liner Brett Cote and goaltender Patrik Polivka.
A lot will depend on whether Hodges, maybe already a borderline AHLer yet not signed by Florida, turns pro. If Magee and Hodges do return, they could miss some games at the beginning of next season due to suspensions. The WHL is reviewing their actions from Thursday night in Portland. Hodges punched an unsuspecting Derrick Pouliot of Portland from behind and was tossed from the game and Magee was assessed a match penalty for attempt-to-injure for high-sticking Nic Petan.
Royals GM Cam Hope said the challenge is to keep forward momentum.
“Teams like Portland and Kelowna seem to be able to retool without rebuilding” he said. “That’s our goal — to go deep every year.”
