Royals Off On The Right Foot

 It doesn't matter what team you are and what expectations you have coming into a season, starting off 2-0 is always a delight as a player, coach, or General Manager of a team. And who else to sweep in the 2 game set than their bitter rivals in the Vancouver Giants, a team that for the most part dominated the Royals last year, especially at the Pacific Colloseum. Royals' GM Cameron Hope is looking like a stud right now, as his offseason deals and aqquisations have been a huge factor in the team's success. Newly aqquired 20 year old Russian sniper Alex Gogolev has seemed to really click with the Royals' offense, and has gelled in well with the rest of the team. Gogolev has recorded 4 points in his first 2 games as a Royal and is also a +3.

 On the back end, there are a couple of new faces worth noting. Selected 12th overall in last year's WHL Bantam Draft, Joe Hicketts has so far lived up to his expectations. Although his defensive game still needs work, Hicketts recorded his 1st WHL goal in just his 2nd game, and has 2 points in 2 games, leading the Royals' defensemen in scoring. Another rookie on the back-end, Kolton Dixon. Dixon hasn't produced much offensively, but he has been shut-down on defense, posting a plus-minus of +3. And the new man between the pipes, Patrik Polivka. Polivka has played consistently well in both the games so far this season and seems to be the bonified #1 for the rest of the season. Polivka has great latteral movement and is very agile, I love his style of play and it seems to be working for him.

As to who will be the captain of this year's edition of the Royals, my money would be on our reigning MVP Jamie Crooks, followed by our veteran defenseman Tyler Stahl and our electrifying center Brandon Magee. But with brand new management, who knows who could be given the "C" for the year. The Royals host the Kamloops Blazers for a double-header this weekend, the games will be on Friday and Sunday night and tickets are already sold out. These will be huge measuring stick  games, as the Blazers are projected to be the top team in the Western Conference this season.

-Tyler Bennett