Credit: Wayne Beaton

By Marlon Martens

Becher, Parascak Pace Prince George 10-4

Royals Fall Prey To Cougars

Mar 17, 2024 | 12:37 PM

Parascak scores. Credit: Wayne Beaton

“We all had a hand in it…” – Head Coach James Patrick

The Victoria Royals were swept in a two game home set by the CHL’s number 1 ranked Prince George Cougars, after a 10-4 drubbing Saturday night.

The Royals opened the scoring, but the Cougars went on a tear, putting up the next six before Victoria could stop the bleeding midway through the middle frame, striking for three of the next four goals.

With a 7-4 lead to start the third, Prince George would not take their foot off the accelerator, scoring the only three in the final frame to hit double digits for a second time this season.

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“It was a total group effort,” said Patrick post game, but not in a good way.

“There’s many parts of the game that I haven’t got through to (the players), it’s too much to list. It’s not X’s and O’s.”

While the leagues leading rookie scorer Terik Parascak scored twice early, both on breakaways, import Andrej Becher stole the show with four goals on a five point night. Zach Funk notched his league leading 65^th, and also set the Prince George record for points in a season, eclipsing Quinn Hancock’s 112, set 26 years ago.

The team also set their season win record, recording their 46^th for the first time since moving from Victoria 30 years ago.

The Cougars won the special teams battle, scoring twice on the power play and a pair shorthanded. Prince George scored early in periods and late, including several goals in quick succession.

“As the score got up, as a team we turned to playing individual hockey and that almost compounds the mistakes.” added Patrick.

Jayden Kraus. Credit: Wayne Beaton

Netminder Ty Young earned back to back victories with a relatively quiet night, facing 16 shots while freshman Jayden Kraus was peppered with 40, and went the distance in his first start in 3 weeks.

The Royals overage forwards, who were honoured prior puck drop with a touching ceremony, found the back of the net in Dawson Pasternak, and Tyson Laventure who had a goal and assist.

Laventure scores. Credit: Wayne Beaton

Victoria also got singles from Matthew Keller his first in the WHL, and Escalus Burlock.

“To finally get rewarded with one, feels really awesome.” said Keller post game, who had his family from Airdrie, Alberta in attendance.

“It’s a bittersweet moment…you never want to lose a game where you score your first goal, especially that bad.”

Keller. Credit: Wayne Beaton

With the weekend losses, Victoria has slid to 7^th in the West, and can no longer catch Wenatchee for home ice advantage in the opening round of the playoffs. As for whom they’ll face, it’s still up in the air with how tight the standings are.

“We have two weeks left to regroup and re-discover how to play the game the right way.”

The club saw the return of a pair of veteran defenceman this past weekend in Nate Misskey and Austin Zemlack, however still have four injured players, in Reggie Newman, Robin Sapousek, Ryan Spizawka and Hudson Bjornson.

“The line up that we will have next weekend, will be the line up we have going into the playoffs.” added Patrick, perhaps shedding some light on whether or not Sapousek, their top 200 foot forward would return this season after suffering an injury during the World Junior Championship in December.

“We just haven’t had a consistent effort from enough lines, and enough guys over the last period of time.”

The Royals will close out the regular season with a pair of games against the Wild Wednesday and Friday night.