The Victoria Royals split a two-game series with the Seattle Thunderbirds finishing with a loss Tuesday night to their American adversaries in Western Hockey League action.
The Royals surrendered the game’s first three goals in the 4-1 defeat to the Thunderbirds at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.
The Thunderbirds jumped out to a 3-0 lead with goals by Cory Millette, Shea Theodore and Jerret Smith en route to the victory. Nolan Volcan notched the contest’s final goal. Victoria’s Joe Hicketts would tally the lone marker for the local side.
Royals’ goaltender Coleman Vollrath got the nod for the second time in as many nights, and turned aside 22 of 26 shots. Seattle netminder Taran Kozun stopped 29 of the 30 shots he faced in the win.
Monday night Victoria’s Greg Chase scored the only goal in the shootout as the Royals defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-2.
The Royals established a 2-0 lead thanks to goals by Hicketts and Jack Walker. The Thunderbirds responded with tallies from Smith and Keegan Kolesar to tie the game in the second period.
Victoria netminder Vollrath made 25 saves on 27 shots and stopped all three of the Thunderbirds’ shootout attempts in the win.
Seattle countered with Logan Flodell who stopped 21 of 23 shots before being replaced by Kozun in the shootout.
The Royals will now head out on a four-game road trip beginning in Prince George for two contests against the Cougars on Friday and Saturday.
Victoria will cap off the road swing with stops in Kelowna against the Rockets on Wednesday (March 11) and in Vancouver versus the Giants on March 13.
Victoria will then return home for a two-game set against the Vancouver Giants on March 14 and March 15.
