A player who GM and head coach Dan Price describes as a “foundational part of our group” is returning to the Victoria Royals. Captain Tarun Fizer has been released from his amateur tryout agreement with the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League and will be in the lineup when the Royals play the Kamloops Blazers on Friday and Saturday nights at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
Fizer was overlooked in the NHL draft but his prototype pro skating ability and playing style earned him a tryout in the NHL training camp of the Colorado Avalanche and a longer look with the AHL-affiliate Eagles.
“It was a great opportunity for Tarun, who now knows what it takes at the professional levels, in both the NHL and AHL,” said Price.
Price added Fizer’s presence will be felt immediately on a young Royals team that is off to a 1-10-1 start without its leader.
“Tarun Fizer’s leadership is evident on the ice and in the dressing room,” said Price.
“Tarun has such outstanding qualities in terms of preparation and competitiveness.”
The five-foot-11, 170-pound native of Chestermere, Alta., has 40 goals and 74 assists for 114 points in 190 regular season games for the Royals. He made his pro debut with one game in the AHL for the Eagles with no points.
The move to return Fizer to junior also enhances Victoria’s options for the future. If the Royals’ season won-loss trajectory continues on a track that sees them missing the playoffs by a wide margin, the 20-year-old veteran Fizer can be dealt at the WHL trade deadline in January to a contender for a high-round draft pick in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft to build for the future. Those sorts of deals are also seen as mercy trades for top 20-year-olds who can close out their final season of junior with a playoff run.
Price countered he’s not even thinking about January at this point and that it’s all about turning the tide from an injury-ravaged September and October and winning in November.
Meanwhile, the Royals have come to terms with 2020 WHL import draft selection Marcus Almquist, an 18-year-old winger selected 27th overall, who will also join the roster this weekend. The five-foot-seven, 168-pound forward began the season with HV71 of the J-20 Nationell SuperElit League in Sweden with three goals and six assists for nine points in nine games. He is described as a speedy player along the boards and skilled in front of the net.
IN THE CREASE: Dealt to the Seattle Thunderbirds on Wednesday was goaltender Connor Martin in a transaction which netted the Royals an eighth-round pick in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.
