VICTORIA 3-VANCOUVER 0
On one level, the goaltender trade this week between the Victoria Royals and Everett Silvertips is what is referred to as a “like for like” swap involving two 19-year-old Western Hockey League veterans.
The Royals certainly “liked” what they got as Braden Holt made an auspicious start for his new club in recording a 35-save shutout Wednesday night as Victoria defeated the Vancouver Giants 3-0 at the Langley Events Centre.
Holt, who came to the Royals, and Tyler Palmer, who was shipped to Everett, are similar in a lot of ways but different in terms of size. Palmer is five-foot-11 and Holt six-foot-two, the latter the type of size pro scouts now overwhelmingly look for in terms of crease prospects.
“Holt has great size, athleticism and control, and that is a rare combination,” said Royals GM and head coach Dan Price.
“And he comes with tremendous experience in pressure situations in Everett. We have followed his career. The stars aligned for us to get him.”
Both goaltenders been workhorses for their previous teams. Palmer held the over-matched Royals in many games last season and to start this season before leaving the club in mid-November amid swirling rumours he was asking for a trade, although the Royals have never confirmed that.
Holt, from Bozeman, Montanta, played in Everett four seasons with a 42-22-3-2 record in a consistently winning organization. He backstopped the Silvertips to a first-place finish in the Western Conference last season with 24 wins and four shutouts in 37 appearances. Holt was 13-13-1 this season in Everett.
Holt faced a Giants team that shocked the Silvertips in the first round of last year’s playoffs in the first-ever victory by a No. 8 seed over a No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. That fact, and that it was his Royals debut, meant Holt had to have had a lot going through his mind on the night. He stood up big despite all that and was named game first star.
Veteran six-foot-three goaltender Jesper Vikman, who has represented Sweden in the world junior championship and was drafted in 2020 by the Las Vegas Golden Knights, made 26 saves in goal for Vancouver. He was beaten for the winner in the third period by Jake Poole, on his 18th goal of the season for Victoria. Brayden Schuurman added the insurance goal on Vikman, then scored another into an empty net.
The Giants were without two key players, captain Zack Ostapchuk is with Canada and Samuel Honzek with Slovakia at the world junior championship taking place in the Maritimes. While Ostapchuk scored in Canada’s rout of Germany, the Giants had to be concerned about Honzek, who was hobbled and helped off the ice Tuesday in Halifax as Slovakia upset the U.S.
The Royals also have a player in the world junior tournament, but Czech forward Robin Sapousek has yet to play for Victoria this season and will join the team next week.
The Giants (13-16-6) are 13 points ahead of Victoria (8-24-3) in the table. The Giants are among the teams the Royals are targeting to claim the eighth and final playoff berth in the Western Conference, making Friday’s return match at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre another important meeting the cross-strait rivals.
The Royals were again without captain Gannon Laroque but his return is near after missing the season to date due to surgery in the summer. The NHL-signed San Jose Sharks defenceman is listed as day-to-day with a targeted return for Jan. 3.
