“I think, as any coach, you’re probably never happy. Realistically, I think we’re right where we thought we would be,” said Lowry, looking back at the first unofficial half of the season, which has the Royals sitting in sixth place in the Western Conference with a record of 17-14-0-2.
“We got off to a great start. We had a little hiccup, but when we lost those six games it was Portland twice and Kamloops and Calgary ... We were losing to the elite teams, not only in our league, but recognized throughout the country as well.”
That six-game losing skid, from Oct. 26 to Nov. 9, marred what was otherwise a good start for the second-year franchise, which made a major overhaul within its team executive with the hiring of Cam Hope as general manager and Lowry as head coach.
It also made major changes to the lineup — one of the youngest in the league.
“We’re a young team,” said Lowry. “We have four 16-year-olds and five 17-year-olds in our lineup. That’s a young team. I like the fact that they’ve all taken big strides in their development and, moving forward, that’s going to be great. It’s going to benefit us long-term.”
The one constant you do find with this group is a consistent compete level, instilled by Lowry and his entire staff.
“That is one thing, as a staff, that we don’t have any concerns about,” said Lowry, reflecting over the first 33 games. “Most nights we work as a group. We’ve made a couple of mistakes at critical points, but they seem to come out every night and throw everything they have on the table.”
OFFENCE
Offensively, the team has sagged, somewhat, recording 97 goals to sit 16th among the 22 WHL clubs. The Royals do not have a bona fide top 10 or even top 20 scorer as of this stage with Alex Gogolev leading the way with 13 goals and 23 assists in 33 games, which leaves him 29th overall. Buffalo Sabres draft pick Logan Nelson (eight goals and 23 assists) is 44th in the league, his eight goals behind his total of 23 last season.
“The style of play I think that we will eventually get to is, we want to be a team that scores goals,” said Lowry. “You have to stay within the framework of your group. Right now we have a team that has to work to score goals.
“There are other teams that are having a lot of success, as well, who do not have a guy in the top 10 or 20. When you have everybody contributing is when you find your success. Outside of Alex, we don’t have that guy who has that ability to break open a game.”
Lowry requires more production out of the likes of Logan, Steven Hodges and Brandon Magee.
“If you look at Logan, he has distributed the puck well, but I think he can score more,” Lowry agreed. “I’m aware of it, we know that, and we’re sure he’s aware of it, too. We’ve talked to him about it and that’s part of growing, and maturing as a player.”
DEFENCE
Defensively, the team has allowed 109 goals against, 11th best in the 22-team loop.
“Our goals against has improved, but I still feel it needs to get better,” said Lowry. “Defensive hockey is a huge commitment. It goes part and parcel, and I think our guys are starting to understand that if you take care of your own end, you’re not playing in it.
“It’s just being responsible. I like some of the strides we’ve made. Yes, we do have young guys and they have played regularly, we’re not hiding guys.”
A good point as the Royals’ future looks very bright at the back end with the likes of Joe Hicketts, Ryan Gagnon, Jack Walker and Keegan Kanzig.
“Joe has been very good,” said Lowry. “He’s a very mature player for his age. Moving forward he is going to be a dominant player in this league. He loves the game, he loves to compete, and he works hard.”
Kanzig, who was not included in the Central Scouting List of prospects for next summer’s NHL draft, continues to be a work in progress. But the hulking 17-year-old is making strides, said Lowry.
“Because he wasn’t recognized by Central Scouting doesn’t mean he’s not on people’s radar,” said Lowry. “Every night we talk to scouts about his development and the steps he’s made in his development moving forward. If he continues to get better and improve he’ll get drafted.”
GOALTENDING
As for goaltending, Lowry and Hope have had a pleasant surprise in the play of Patrik Polivka, who came over from the Czech Republic as an import.
“He’s been great. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do, and he’s given us an opportunity to win on most nights,” said Lowry.
Polivka is 20th in the WHL having played 25 games, collected two shutouts, has a 3.01 goals-against-average and .901 save percentage in recording a 14-8-0-2 log. He is sixth among rookie netminders, with the second most appearances behind just Eetu Laurikainen of the Swift Current Broncos.
As far as other surprises, Lowry also likes the fact that 16-year-old defenceman Jack Walker is more than fitting in.
“I think the emergence of a guy like Jack, playing as a forward, and the emergence of our young guys has been very good,” said Lowry.
And what he wants to see most in the second half is an improvement in consistency.
“I want to see us continue to take strides in the right direction. I think we’re doing that,” he stressed.
