CHL gives 4-0 Royals a nod in team ratings after sizzling start
The Victoria Royals, written off in most pre-season predictions, have so far defied their doubters and those who categorized the club as being in a rebuild phase.
The Royals, off to a 4-0 start in the Western Hockey League, have been listed as an honourable mention in this week’s Canadian Hockey League top-10 poll released Wednesday.
It’s a perch on which few expected to see the Royals this season. But Victoria’s strong start has some people ruminating about a reprise of 2015-16, another season in which the Royals defied pre-season prognostications and went on to post the best record in the WHL and claim the Scotty Munro Trophy.
Defencemen Ralph Jarratt and Montreal Canadiens thirdround draft pick Scott Walford, forward Dante Hannoun and goaltender Griffen Outhouse remain from that Royals team.
But at least one of the foursome is downplaying the similarities, though not the end goal.
“This is a new group from 2016, and we want to write our own story,” said Jarratt. “Everybody has contributed to the start we’ve had.”
The Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League are ranked No. 1 and London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League No. 2. The first WHL team cited is the Lethbridge Hurricanes (2-2) at No. 3, followed by the Prince Albert Raiders (5-0 heading into a game Wednesday night) at No. 4, Edmonton Oil Kings (5-0 heading into Wednesday action) at No. 5 and Spokane Chiefs (2-1-1) at No. 9. The Brandon Wheat Kings (3-0) are also given an honourable mention.
Victoria is one of three teams among the 22 in the WHL not to have a player listed by Central Scouting for the 2019 NHL draft.
The Royals’ surprising start was accomplished with four games at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. Their first foray away from Blanshard is Friday and Saturday in the Okanagan against the Kelowna Rockets (1-4 heading into Wednesday night’s game against the Vancouver Giants).
NOTE: It was announced Wednesday that the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets will host the Memorial Cup in 2020.