On the same Sunday afternoon that a certain football team in Seattle was producing a late whiplash change in script and some overtime magic, the Victoria Royals were offering up some dramatics of their own in extra time.
The host Edmonton Oil Kings, the defending Western Hockey League and Memorial Cup national champions, scored two goals within 10 seconds to tie the game with less than four minutes remaining in regulation. Royals forward Greg Chase, however, responded by ending it at 3:24 of overtime with his second goal of the game for a 4-3 victory as Victoria swept its three-game Alberta swing and won for the fifth consecutive time.
But perhaps the game’s most significant moment, at least in a historical perspective, occurred when Brandon Magee assisted on Victoria’s first goal by Alex Forsberg. That gave Magee 242 career points to set the Chilliwack Bruins/Victoria Royals franchise record, previously held by his close friend Kevin Sundher at 241 points.
“Kevin [Sundher is now a pro with the Rochester Americans of the AHL] phoned me right after and said: ‘If it had to be broken, I’m glad it was you.’ ”
As fate would have it, Magee scored the record-breaking point in his hometown of Edmonton.
“It was an awesome feeling that it happened in my hometown with so many family and friends there to watch it,” said Magee, a 20-year-old rarity in that he has spent his entire WHL career in one organization.
What also makes Magee’s achievement, in becoming the all-time franchise points leader, so noteworthy is that he accomplished it while dealing with the challenge of Type 1 Diabetes. He takes six insulin injections each day and must check his blood sugar before games and between periods.
“I have to watch it constantly and carefully. If it’s too high or too low, your body isn’t functioning properly. But it’s just a part of my lifestyle and becomes fairly routine,” said Magee.
Magee has had Type 1 Diabetes since age five but didn’t let it curtail his dreams of a hockey career.
“My parents were a huge part of supporting me and teaching me how to manage it. I just wanted to go out and play and not let it hinder me,” said Magee, who will pursue a pro career after this season.
Magee is one of two Royals players with Type 1 Diabetes, along with 2015 NHL draft-rated defenceman Chaz Reddekopp.
“Chaz and I joke about it between ourselves . . . about where our blood sugar is at,” said Magee.
“Diabetes is serious but we try to keep it light. Hopefully, they will find a cure.”
Jack Walker scored the other Victoria goal Sunday on a two-point afternoon. Forsberg also had a two-point day, as did Travis Brown with two assists to extend his WHL points lead for defencemen to 45 points and two ahead of fellow Royals’ blue-liner Joe Hicketts.
Royals goaltender Justin Paulic faced 40 shots, six of them unloaded by Oil Kings defenceman Dysin Mayo from Victoria. The Royals got 30 shots on Tristan Jarry.
The Royals (25-19-3) take their five-game winning roll into a home set Friday and Saturday against the Kamloops Blazers (16-24-6) at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
“The whole team has now bought into the system and put personal agendas aside,” said Magee, of a Royals side that looks to be hitting its stride with the stretch drive looming.
