Victoria Royals in the eye of the Hurricanes

Victoria loses veteran blue-liner Reddekopp to injury

The Victoria Royals lost 5-4 in a WHL shootout Friday in Lethbridge on a night in which the score was overshadowed by some potentially devastating injury news at a latter time of season when a team can least afford to bear it.

Royals defenceman Chaz Reddekopp, a draft pick of the Los Angeles Kings, broke his foot blocking a shot in Wednesday’s game in Medicine Hat and will be out long term. He is in a protective boot.

“Chaz will be out for the rest of the regular season, but you never know how these things heal [in regard to the playoffs],” said Royals GM Cam Hope.

“Obviously, he’s a big piece of our blue-line. But injuries happen. That’s why we have the depth we do. The other guys stepped up [Friday in Lethbridge].”

Reddekopp’s ailment adds to a Royals injury load that already includes Anaheim Ducks draft pick Tyler Soy, out week to week, and fellow-forward Ryan Peckford, the 87th-ranked skater for the 2017 NHL draft, out six-to-seven weeks.

Royals forward Jared Dmytriw, meanwhile, sat out the second game of his three-game WHL suspension.

“We are going to have to lean on our other defencemen,” said Royals coach Dave Lowry, in addressing the loss of Reddekopp.

“We have no choice. [Reddekopp] is out until at least the playoffs. This could make us a better team [if everyone steps up and comes together].”

Regan Nagy’s second goal of the game for Victoria on Friday night in Lethbridge tied it 4-4 at 18:29 of the third period.

The Hurricanes, 10-1 in their last 11 games, are third ranked in the Eastern Conference at 35-16-7. The Royals are 31-23-5 and seventh ranked in the tough Western Conference.

Other Victoria goals came from Matthew Phillips, with his team-leading 41st of the season, and Blake Bargar.

“The guys played hard and well enough to win tonight,” said Lowry.

Lethbridge captain and 20-year-old over-ager Tyler Wong, undrafted but with three games of pro in the AHL this season, led the Hurricanes with a goal and assist and the winner in the shootout.

Griffen Outhouse made 36 saves in goal for Victoria. Six-foot-four Stuart Skinner, the ninth-ranked North American goaltender and second-ranked in the WHL for the 2017 NHL draft, made 35 saves for Lethbridge.

The Royals get somewhat of a respite tonight when they travel to Cranbrook to meet the lowly Kootenay Ice.