Quite literally, as Kelowna Rockets goaltender Jackson Whistle was the difference with a 34-save performance in a 3-1 victory over the Victoria Royals before 4,885 fans at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
The better team did not win on the night, with the total credit for that going to Whistle. It was evident during the Vancouver Canucks rookie and prospects camp last summer at Shawnigan Lake School just how much Whistle, a free-agent invite, had improved his crease presence.
Whistle continues in his quest of trying to land a pro contract this season as a 20-year-old over-ager with the Rockets. He made three quality saves in the first period to keep the Royals at bay. Going the other way, Calvin Thurkauf gave Kelowna the lead at 11:58 on the power play against Victoria’s league top-rated penalty kill. Tyson Baillie converted a money assist from Justin Kirkland at 11:01 of the second period to push Kelowna’s a 2-0 lead.
Victoria’s frustration mounted when forward Tyler Soy rang a short-handed shot off the iron in the second period. As it was, the Royals went into the second break leading 24-16 on the shots board but trailing 2-0 on the scoreboard.
“These are two extremely disciplined teams and it was a good battle,” said Victoria head coach Dave Lowry, who was not displeased with his team’s effort.
The Royals finally solved Whistle when Alex Forsberg converted a Dante Hannoun pass at 6:40 of the third period with Matthew Phillips drawing the other assist. That line has amassed a total of 44 points in the last 11 games.
Victoria poured on the pressure but Kirkland’s against-the-grain power-play goal put it away at 19:40.
“I liked the way we played tonight,” said Forsberg.“We had a lot of chances. When we skate, we create a lot of chances. It comes to bearing down a little more. We just have to look for some bounces [tonight, when the Royals and Rockets meet again].”
Vicoria goaltender Coleman Vollrath, a fellow 20-year-old to Whistle, made just 20 saves.
Kelowna won the special teams duel by going 2-4 on the power play while Victoria was 0-5.
“The difference in the game was the special teams. We need to be better on the power play,” said Forsberg.
Lowry added: “We need to shoot [more] on the power play and get traffic in front of the net.”
The game was a marquee affair featuring the defending WHL champion and current league-leading Rockets (19-5-1) and the youthful but surprising Royals (16-8-2), off to the best start in the 10 seasons of Chilliwack Bruins/Victoria Royals franchise history. The Rockets are ranked No. 4 in the Canadian Hockey League top-10 poll while the Royals drew an honourable mention.
If there wasn’t enough already to it, the match-up was a reprise of last spring’s second-round playoff series, won 4-1 by Kelowna en route to the WHL title and CHL Memorial Cup final.
The Royals and Rockets meet again tonight in the Memorial Centre.
