It is said revenge is a dish best served cold. Like on a sheet of ice. Game first-star Teague Patton, traded away by the Victoria Royals over the off-season for a 2026 fourth-round Western Hockey League prospects draft pick, had a goal and assist to lead the Everett Silvertips past the Royals 5-3 on Saturday night before 5,349 fans at Angel of the Winds Arena in Washington state.
Dominik Rymon put it away with an empty-net goal. Alex Edwards, Teydon Trembecky and Czech world junior championship silver-medallist Robin Sapousek scored for the Royals.
Former Silvertips goaltender Braden Holt returned to his old haunt and turned in an outstanding 44-save performance for Victoria yet was not give a game star. Former Royals goaltender Tyler Palmer was required to make only 24 stops.
Special teams were again key as Everett went 3-for-7 on the power play and Victoria zero-for-three and is now zero-for-nine on the season.
“Our line chemistry is growing but within that we need to have substantially more discipline. We’re taking too many penalties and it’s exhausting our penalty killers and taking us out of our rhythm at even strength,” said Royals head coach Dan Price.
The Royals season has begun pretty much as a reprise of the last three low seasons. The Royals are 0-2 after opening with a 4-1 loss Friday night to the Vancouver Giants at the Langley Event Centre.
The home openers for Victoria are next Friday and Saturday at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre against the Prince George Cougars.
“Our competition level was high but we need to take that to another level this week in practice,” said Price.
“Certainly we need to win more battles at both net fronts and we’ll address that this week as well.”
