Victoria Royals head coach James Patrick knows how fleeting junior hockey is, especially chances at the international level. To have done it twice, as Patrick did, is rarer still. He won gold with Canada at the 1982 world junior championship in Rochester, Minnesota, and bronze in 1983 in Leningrad with teams both years that included Victoria Cougars stars Mark Morrison and the late Paul Cyr of Port Alberni.
So Patrick is specially positioned to offer pertinent words of advice as Royals forwards Robin Sapousek and Casper Haugen Evensen head off to the 2024 world juniors, Sapousek with Czechia and Evensen with newly promoted Norway. Both sides are in the same group and the two Royals will face each other on Dec. 27 when Czechia and Norway meet.
“I said to both of them: ‘Have as much fun as possible and soak it all up and get ready to play a really fast game,’” said Patrick.
Canada, which includes NHL first-round draft pick and former Victoria Grizzlies BCHL forward Matthew Wood of Nanaimo, is in the other group.
Victoria sophomore-import Sapousek, second in Royals points with 32 behind Tanner Scott’s 34 and tied with Scott in goals with 13, was on the silver-medallist Czechia team that lost to champion Canada in the 2023 world junior tournament in Halifax and will be looking to join Patrick as a two-time world junior medallist. Yet Sapousek was still uncertain heading into the Czech training camp this week.
“I told Robin he’s making that team and is going to be on that team and that he is going to be a big part of that team,” said Patrick.
“I said to not worry about anything and don’t over-do it. Go and have fun and play your hardest. Robin is the ultimate hardest-worker type of player who gives everything. I said: ‘I know you are going to work your hardest. Have some fun with it, too.’”
The five-foot-seven Evensen, sturdy and with a lower centre of gravity than the six-foot Sapousek, has six goals and 10 points in his rookie season for the Royals.
“Casper has produced for us with some big goals,” said Patrick.
“Now he is at the next level and playing against the elites and the fastest juniors players in the world.”
Missing the two imports until the second week of January puts a dent in the Royals’ offence but that is a break for somebody else.
“We are without two good players. It’s a great opportunity for someone to step up,” said Patrick.
“Everyone wants more ice time. Some of the guys who have been clamouring for ice time are going to get it.”
Matthew Hodson will replace Sapousek at centre between Scott and Reggie Newman on Victoria’s top line, beginning tonight when the Royals (18-12-2) meet the Tri-City Americans (15-12-2) in the first game of a back-to-back Western Hockey League set at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
ICE CHIPS: Eight WHL players are on the Canadian team headed to Sweden for the world junior championship tournament.
