Credit: Gord Rufh

By Marlon Martens

Portland Wins Series In 4 Straight

Royals Season Ends After 4-1 Loss to ‘Hawks

Apr 4, 2024 | 12:32 AM

Credit: Gord Rufh

“It could have been a lot worse tonight. They outplayed as they were the deeper and better team, and (Holt) is the one who kept it close.” – HC James Patrick

The Victoria Royals season came to a close Wednesday night after a 4-1 loss to the visiting Portland Winterhawks, who win the series in 4 straight games.

The Royals were the underdogs going in against the CHL Top 10 ‘Hawks, and twice fell by just a single goal in a hard fought set.

“They’re a good team, they skate so well, they have the most mobile in the defense in the league and they stretch the ice out, so it just forced us into a lot of turnovers and as the game went on, and we spent a lot of time in our zone, and not much in theirs.” said Patrick post game.

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Spunar makes a glove save. Credit: Gord Rufh

Wednesday night Portland led 2-1 after 20 minutes, 3-1 after 40, before added the only goal in the third to seal it.

“This was for sure the toughest game of the series, probably our lowest chance affair. They smothered us, gave us very little, a really good skating team. We had so little time and space, a tough time just getting pucks in deep.”

Victoria’s netminder Braden Holt was named the games 3^rd star with 41 saves, while Jan Spunar only needed 20 saves for his fourth consecutive victory.

Holt makes a tough save. Credit: Gord Rufh

“Braden has had a fantastic year. He works extremely hard, he battles, leads by work ethic and that’s what you want from your number one goalie.”

“I’m telling you there weren’t too many nights since I’ve been here that he didn’t give us a chance to win. This was his best year of his career.”

Rookie Cole Reschny notched his first of the post season, for the only goal by the home side.

Reschny scores, followed by team celly. Credit: Gord Rufh

“It’s tough. Obviously, we hate losing the series, it ends the season.” said the rookie sensation who finished 3^rd among the team in regular season scoring,

“I felt that we were in this series the whole time and we battled. I thought we had a chance, maybe a win tonight would them on their heels a bit, but it just didn’t…so yeah, it’s tough.”

Josh Zakreski led the way for the ‘Hawks scoring twice and adding an assist on a three point night.

The silver lining is the playoff experience gained by Victoria, moving forward.

“Just how important every shift is, how you can’t get down, you can’t get frustrated.” said Patrick on what was learned from playing in the post season.

“You just have to plug away, and how one shift can change the outcome of a game. You learn from a team like them, how hard they are on pucks. They definitely play the right way, play a quick transition game, but they’re skilled forwards, fast forwards are very heavy on pucks. They battle, they’re two hand stick battles are very impressive…So those are things we can learn from.”

Pasternak shot on Spunar

Victoria graduates overage forwards Dawson Pasternak and Tyson Laventure, along with netminder Holt in an emotional ending to their Major Junior careers.