Gropp helps Thunderbirds topple Royals SEATTLE 3 VICTORIA 1

Class is now in session.

The Victoria Royals’ recent string of success was mostly built on opposition provided by the lowly Vancouver Giants and teams from a suspect Eastern Conference of the Western Hockey League.

The big and skilled Seattle Thunderbirds stormed onto the Island this week, through the uncharacteristic West Coast winter snowstorms, to provide the most difficult challenge to Victoria in its last 10 games.

The Thunderbirds schooled Victoria in a 3-1 victory before an announced crowd of 3,081 at Saveon-Foods Memorial Centre on Tuesday night to move to 32-15-5 overall and 8-0-1 in their last nine games with just one regulationtime loss in their last 15 games.

Seattle’s first line operates on another level. New York Rangers second-round draft pick Ryan Gropp scored all three goals, the final one into an empty net, and future New York Islander Mathew Barzal picked up two assists. The other member of the line is Columbus Blue Jackets-signed Keegan Kolesar.

The Royals (30-20-4) came into the contest on a four-game winning streak and had won eight of their previous nine. But this small, darting Victoria team simply does not match-up well against the much larger Thunderbirds. Seattle continued its recent-seasons dominance and won its eight consecutive game against the Royals.

“They have had our number,” said Victoria forward Matthew Phillips. “They use their size to advantage and don’t pass up a chance to hit you.”

The Royals looked like welterweights in comparison and were being leaned on, and tossed about, by Seattle for much of Tuesday night.

Dante Hannoun equalized the game for Victoria from the slot on the power play with his 19th goal of the season at 18:36 of the first period. The goal was assisted by Tyler Soy to extend his points streak to 10 games. The Anaheim Ducks draft pick has seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points in that stretch.

But Gropp’s second goal of the period, a rocket to the blocker side, off an assist from Barzal and Edmonton Oilers blueline prospect Ethan Bear, restored Seattle’s lead with 18 seconds remaining in the first period and proved to be the winner.

Victoria managed to keep the second period scoreless despite being outshot 23-11 over the first two periods.

“They are big, so we have to keep moving our feet,” said Hannoun.

But how do you slow down a first line as good as Seattle’s? Take a page from the Thunderbirds’ book and give as good as you take, said Hannoun: “We have to put more body on them [Barzal, Gropp and Kolesar] and wear them down.”

Griffen Outhouse finished with 29 saves in goal for Victoria, while Matt Berlin parried 17 for the Thunderbirds.

Seattle leads the season series 3-0. The teams meet again tonight on Blanshard to close out their regular-season account.