VICTORIA 6 VANCOUVER 4
If Victoria Royals forward Steven Hodges has favourite road buildings, the Pacific Coliseum on the grounds of the PNE in Vancouver has to be high on the list.
Not only is it the closest opposition building to his adopted hometown of Delta, but he also has a certain knack in that rink.
Hodges scored twice Friday in a three-point night to lead the Royals to a 6-4 victory over the Vancouver Giants in the Western Hockey League 2012-13 regular-season opener for both clubs.
Not bad for a guy who took a puck to the mouth during warm-ups.
In the 2011-12 season opener last year, also at the Pacific Coliseum, Hodges scored the first goal in Royals history following the move of the franchise from Chilliwack.
The darting 19-year-old centre is this season aiming to prove he will eventually be full value for the Florida Panthers, who selected him in the third round of the 2012 NHL draft.
He is flanked on Victoria's top line by wingers Jamie Crooks, last season's team MVP and leading scorer, and Buffalo Sabresdraft pick Logan Nelson. The latter two were held point-less on the night.
The 20-year-old import Alex Gogolev assisted on the Hodges goals, which both came on first-period power plays. The smooth stickhandling Russian, acquired in a trade last weekend from the Calgary Hitmen in exchange for forward Zane Jones, quickly displayed why he had 57 points last season for the Hitmen.
"I didn't even clue in about [the similarity between] last year's opening game and this one," said Hodges, following the contest.
"I was more happy after my first goal with Gogolev getting his first assist. He is a good hockey player with eyes in the back of his head."
Victoria held period leads of 2-1 and 4-2.
"We're still working on things but when we get opportunities, we bear down," said Hodges. "And tonight showed we have firepower."
In what could be a sign of things to come, lauded 16-year-old Royals rookie defenceman Joe Hicketts recorded his first career WHL points by drawing an assist on forward Ben Walker's goal at 15: 37 of the second period and then scoring his first major-junior goal at 37 seconds of the third period.
Vancouver goals by forwards Brett Kulak and Nathan Burns at 10: 46 and 13: 53 of third period made it 5-4 as Vancouver pressed before a home crowd of 7,812.
But forward Logan Fisher sealed the deal for Victoria with an empty-net goal with 58 seconds remaining as Gogolev earned his third assist of the game.
High-energy forward Brandon Magee had Victoria's other goal on the night, which came in the second period. Veteran forward Cain Franson led led Vancouver with two goals.
Patrik Polivka, a rookie Czech import, made the start in goal for Victoria and faced 30 shots. Liam Liston, acquired in a trade from the Lethbridge Hurricanes to be the Giants starter, saw 18 Victoria shots in the Vancouver nets.
ICE CHIPS: The Royals, who have yet to name a captain, had defenceman Jordan Fransoo and forwards Magee, Tim Traber and Jamie Crooks designated as the alternate captains Friday . . . Making their debuts for the Royals were Polivka, Gogolev, Hicketts, Fisher, Mitch Deacon, and Kolton Dixon.
