The Victoria Royals got back in the win column with a 2-1 victory over the Swift Current Broncos on Saturday (Dec. 8).
It was Adam Lowry’s second visit to Victoria this season and the Broncos captain scored his team’s only goal. It was also his first time facing his father, Royals head coach Dave Lowry. Adam and Dave shared the bench with Team WHL vs. Russia last month.
The rink rained teddy bears when Austin Carroll opened the scoring for the Royals at 1:51 of the second period. The annual toss benefits children through local charities such as The Salvation Army, and the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.
Carroll fired a wrist shot that got a piece of Eetu Laurikainen’s blocker and trickled up and over the Broncos’ goaltender and into the net. It brought thousands of stuffies to the ice. A minute after the restart, Brandon Magee netted his 13th off a Ben Walker pass.
Adam Lowry sniped a wrist shot high glove side on Patrick Polivka in the third. Polivka made 32 saves for his 13th win of the season.
The win put the Royals (16-13-0-1) into sixth place, ahead of the Seattle Thunderbirds (16-14-0-1) in the Western Conference based on winning percentage.
The Royals visited the Thunderbirds on Tuesday, results of which were past press time, and will swing through Alberta this weekend, against the Red Deer Rebels on Friday and Edmonton Oil Kings on Saturday.
Next is a 13-day holiday break, which ends when the Royals host a two-game home stand, Dec. 28 and 29, versus the Prince George Cougars.
The BCHL Victoria Grizzies also have a holiday break coming. The Grizz also won 2-1 on Saturday, defeating the visiting Surrey Eagles at Bear Mountain Arena.
Gerry Fitzgerald scored in the first and third period for the Grizz.
The Grizzlies (19-8) are now four points ahead of the Alberni Bulldogs for first in the Island division and tied with the Chilliwack Chiefs for second in the league behind the Penticton Vees.
The Grizzlies play three-in-three this weekend, as they’re home to the Prince George Spruce Kings at 7 p.m. on Friday, away at Alberni on Saturday, and home to the Cowichan Capitals at 6 p.m. on Sunday.
sports@vicnews.com
