Langley, B.C.- Second time’s the charm!
For a second straight night, the Victoria Royals jumped out to a 4-0 lead over the rival Vancouver Giants- but this time, they’d hang on for a 5-2 regulation win.
Veteran forward Brayden Boehm put forward an impressive performance with his second multi-goal game of the season, scoring a pair and picking up an assist in the victory.
Projected 2025 NHL first-round pick Cole Reschny also had a goal and an assist, while Utah Hockey Club prospect and Captain Justin Kipkie snagged a pair of helpers.
The Royals’ powerplay took centre stage in the opening frame, with Hayden Moore potting the game-opening goal with a precision one-timer from the slot.
https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/1874581809385894248
Winnipeg Jets prospect Markus Loponen served up the assist with a nice setup from below the goal line.
Victoria quickly doubled their lead with a crisp powerplay deflection from Brayden Boehm, with Kipkie and alternate captain Reschny picking up the helpers.
https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/1874582626448912487
Teydon Trembecky, who scored a hat trick in yesterday’s tilt between these teams, found the net once again on a third straight powerplay goal after 16-year-old Keaton Verhoeff picked off an attempted Giants clear and set up Trembecky to bat a rebound out of the air and into the twine.
https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/1874584224772370532
Vancouver centreman Tyson Zimmer nearly got the home side on the board as he attempted to usher the puck in from the backdoor after a slick Mazden Leslie setup, but was denied by the outstretched pad of Kraus.
Instead, moments, later, Boehm and Reschny streaked down the ice on a two-on-one, with Boehm pulling the trigger for a 4-0 lead and his second goal of the game.
https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/1874585681185653002
The Giants would switch goalies coming into the second period, with Burke Hood relieving Michael Hutchison, but Reschny took his chance to dig hard around the net and muscle his 12th goal of the season home for a 5-0 lead.
Goal Reschny kicks off 2025 with his 12th goal of the campaign!@victoriaroyals | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/1IleTen1uC
— The WHL (@TheWHL) January 1, 2025
Vancouver veteran London Hoilett broke the goose egg for his team shortly afterward by dancing around a Victoria defender in the slot and wiring a deceptive wrister past Jayden Kraus.
So silky, so smooth, so London Hoilett!@WHLGiants pic.twitter.com/rZPPwF2cxA
— The WHL (@TheWHL) January 1, 2025
Rookie forward Brett Olson also lessened the blow with a late powerplay tally for his third of the year.
2025 NHL Draft-eligible netminder Jayden Kraus made 17 saves in the win, picking up his 13th win of the campaign.
Victoria (18-11-3-4) will head home to gear up for a daunting test against the league-leading Everett Silvertips (28-5-2-1) on Friday, January 3 at 7:05 p.m. PST.
With their four-game winning streak snapped, Vancouver (17-14-4-0) will look to get back in the win column against the Wenatchee Wild at the Langley Events Centre on Friday, January 3 at 7:00 p.m. PST.
