For at least one night, the dream still flickered.
A total of 37 skaters and four goaltenders dressed — while five veterans sat out — for the Victoria Royals intra-squad game Wednesday at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
That won’t last.
“It’s a fun time of year. But it’s going to be sad for some guys,” said Royals general-manager Cam Hope.
“The hardest part is sending people home who can play in the Western Hockey League.”
That’s what comes of being a player trying out for a WHL team that recorded franchise highs last season in both wins (48) and points (100).
Matthew Campese, a 17-year-old rookie forward trying to crack the roster, stated his case by scoring three goals to lead White to a 6-5 victory over Blue, including the winner on a shifty move with 21 seconds remaining.
“This was a big game for every one of these players. I wanted to make a good impression, and couldn’t be happier,” said Campese.
“I just want to play my game and see where it takes me.”
How does he feel about his chances of making the team?
“It’s out of my hands. I have no control over that,” said Campese.
Some of the news, both good and bad, will be delivered today as the Royals wind down their training camp and head to Everett, Washington, for their first preseason game Friday night against the Silvertips.
The Royals are tentatively scheduled to take three goaltenders — Evan Smith of Colorado, Michael Herringer of Comox and incumbent Coleman Vollrath — seven defencemen and 16 forwards on the trip that will also include games Saturday against the Seattle Thunderbirds and Sunday against the Tri City Americans.
Veterans Keegan Kanzig, Austin Carroll and Travis Brown won’t be making the trip to Everett.
Brandon Magee is suspended while Axel Blomqvist is with the Swedish junior national team at a tournament in Europe.
The decisions will only get more difficult after the first wave of cuts.
“The toughest thing is when you get down to about 30 players and it’s just tiny, little things that make a difference [between who stays and who goes],” said Hope.
Some aspirants will have bought some extra time because six Royals veterans are attending NHL rookie camps starting Sept. 9. Joe Hicketts will be with the Red Wings, Brown with the Senators, Blomqvist with the Jets and Carroll, Kanzig and Magee with the Flames.
“We’re going to be short-handed through that time and that gives the other guys a chance with some meaningful playing time,” said Hope.
The 16-year-old Dante Hannoun, 15-year-old Dawson Frank of Duncan and veteran Logan Fisher got the other White goals. Tyler Soy, coming off the U-18 gold medal with Canada at the recent Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in the Czech Republic, scored the hat-trick for Blue. Other Blue goals came from 17-year-old forward Keith Anderson and 16-year-old Matthew Phillips.
Suiting up for the White team were forwards Ben Berard and Frank from the Cowichan Valley, both selected by the Royals in the 2014 bantam draft. As 15-year-olds, the Island pair can only play five WHL games each this season, so there’s no pressure. But Hope liked what he saw for the future.
“They [Berard and Frank] have been great,” said the Royals GM.
“They showed us why our scouts were so high on them. Both showed all kinds of skill in camp.”
