Victoria Royals’ rookies hit the ice
There was a sort of closing of the circle with the opening of Victoria Royals rookie camp Friday, as Nolan Bentham listened intently to Joe Hicketts address the new draftees and recruits.
Hicketts was the first player the Royals selected in the Western Hockey League bantam draft after the franchise moved across the strait from Chilliwack — in the first round in 2011. Bentham is the latest Royals’ first-rounder, taken 13th overall this year.
“[Hicketts] told us about his junior experiences with the Royals. He is definitely someone to look up to,” said Bentham.
Both are defencemen and Royals first-rounders. But that’s where the similarities end. Former Canada world junior gold-medallist Hicketts, who made his NHL debut last season with five games called up to the Detroit Red Wings, is five-foot-eight. The 15-year-old Bentham is six-foot-two and could still be growing.
Hicketts, a four-season Royals standout, is from Kamloops. Racquet Club of Victoria product Bentham, the first Islander selected by the Royals in the first round of the bantam draft, is that rare WHLer who gets to play for his hometown club.
“It’s unique, but I’m treating it like I was going to any other team,” said Bentham.
Growing up watching Royals hockey in the stands on Blanshard Street allowed Bentham to cultivate a friendship with Royals defenceman Scott Walford. The NHL third-round Montreal Canadiens draft pick has become a mentor to Bentham. There is a chance the two could be on the Victoria blue line together. Bentham is allowed to play five games this season with the Royals as a call-up. Bentham next season is eligible to be a Royals rookie and Walford a 20-year-old overager.
Bentham will play this season at Yale Academy in Abbotsford, where he will suit up for the Midget team. Already he noticed the difference in pace as Royals rookie camp opened at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
“It’s a lot quicker up here and a higher standard,” said the rearguard, who attended Spectrum.
“It really pushes your game. I want to take in everything. I am learning a lot.”
Bentham, whom the Royals plan on making a mainstay of the blue line beginning in 2019-20, describes himself as a “two-way defenceman.”
“I can jump up and make plays . . . and be good in the defensive zone, as well,” he said.
“I want to work on my strength this season in Midget, and get ready physically and mentally for the WHL.”
And this could be a family affair as older brother Blake Bentham has been invited to the Royals’ main camp, which opens Monday at the Memorial Centre. It has been a busy late summer for 17-year-old Blake. He is currently at the Victoria Grizzlies’ B.C. Hockey League training camp and he spent time at the Westshore Wolves’ Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League camp.
This is a pair of siblings as comfortable on unfrozen water. The Bentham boys, being true Islanders, grew up salmon fishing on the family boat.
Others of note in Royals rookie camp include Brett Huxley of Calgary, nephew of former Victoria Cougars WHL star and now Royals-scout Scott Fukami; defenceman Kaden Reinders, who played three games up for the Royals last season as a 15-year-old; emerging second-round 2017 bantam pick Dallon Melin of Camrose, Alta.; and Islanders Ross Roloson of Victoria, son of former NHL goaltender Dwayne Roloson; and Ben Brant of Duncan and Cage Newans of Qualicum Beach.
Today’s rookie camp scrimmage sessions, open to the public, are at 10 a.m., 12:15 p.m. and 2 p.m.
The Royals veterans report to main camp on Monday.