Blades pick up rare Island win
Going viral might bring pop infamy, but it doesn’t help on the ice.
Victoria was beaten 2-1 by the Saskatoon Blades in the first Western Hockey League game since a playful Royals’ soccerheader video was seen by hundreds of thousands of viewers this week.
There were 4,722 witnesses on Wednesday night as the Royals lost their third consecutive game to fall to 12-9. The resurgent Blades, looking for their first playoff appearance in six seasons, went to 16-9-2.
It was the first loss by the Royals to Saskatoon since 2011-12 and ended a six-game Victoria winning streak in this once-every-season matchup. It was the first victory for the Blades on the Island since beating the Victoria Cougars in 1992-93 on the same site but in the old Memorial Arena.
The Royals’ cause wasn’t helped at 17:45 of the second period when team scoring leader Kaid Oliver was assessed a controversial fiveminute major penalty and game misconduct for a check to the head. Dawson Davidson was falling and stumbled into Oliver.
That was a major blow for the Royals, who produce pressure but lack finishing. Case in point is that Saskatoon goaltender Dorrin Luding was named first star for his 30 saves.
Griffen Outhouse was his usual self in the Victoria goal with 30 saves.
Swedish-import Kristian Roykas-Marthinsen, a 2017 draft pick of the Washington Capitals, scored the first goal of the game on a deflection at 12:39 of the second period. Victoria defenceman and Montreal Canadiens-prospect Scott Walford split the Saskatoon defence to score a four-on-four back-hander at 1:00 of the third period. It was a goal befitting a third-round NHL draft pick. It took Zach Huber less than three minutes to provide the Blades with the winning goal.
It was the first game back for former Royals forward and Washington draft pick Eric Florchuk, who was traded last season for two first-round WHL bantam draft picks.