The Victoria Royals are heading back to the WHL playoffs—and unlike last year’s bumpy ride, this time they’re charging in with confidence, momentum, and a fully loaded roster.
Victoria wrapped up the regular season by clinching the BC Division title and locking down second place in the Western Conference.
Their first-round matchup? A best-of-seven series against the seventh-seeded Tri-City Americans—a team they’ve already handled three times in four meetings this year.
While last season saw the Royals limp into the post-season with injuries piling up and a daunting matchup against the high-octane Portland Winterhawks, this year’s team looks much different. They’re healthy, they’re deep, and they boast one of the most dynamic defensive groups in the league.
A different story this year
Victoria dominated the regular season series, outscoring the Americans 20-9 over four games, including a 9–1 thrashing in early February. The lone Tri-City win came way back in September—long before the Royals made significant mid-season roster moves.
On paper, Victoria holds the edge in most categories. Offensively, they’re rolling. Five Royals finished with 20 or more goals, and the forward group is headlined by Cole Reschny (92 points) and Teydon Trembecky, who lit the lamp 46 times en route to 88 points.
But it’s not just the forwards causing headaches for opponents—Victoria’s blue line is downright dangerous. Rookie defenceman Keaton Verhoeff had a breakout year with 21 goals and 45 points.
Add in Justin Kipkie and Nate Misskey, and the Royals have three defencemen with 40+ points and double-digit goals. The trio combined for 44 goals this season—production that will be key in breaking through Tri-City’s defensive structure.
Tri-City aiming for the upset
That said, don’t count the Americans out just yet. After missing the playoffs last year, they’re back with something to prove and have the physical tools to make life difficult for Victoria.
Tri-City is one of the biggest teams in the league, with 10 players listed at over 6 feet and 200 pounds. If they can play the body, finish their checks, and slow the Royals down physically, this series could get interesting.
Their top offensive weapon is Jake Sloan, who scored 29 goals on the year, while Max Curran led the team in points with 74. It’s not the same offensive firepower as Victoria’s lineup, but Tri-City’s physicality and experience could give them a fighting chance.
In goal, Lukas Matecha played 49 games for the Americans, finishing with a 3.55 GAA and a .900 save percentage. He’ll need to be at his best to withstand the Royals’ pressure. On the Victoria side, Jayden Kraus posted a 2.86 GAA and a .908 save percentage in 46 games, while trade-deadline acquisition Johnny Hicks also impressed, going 10-4-0-1 with a 2.69 GAA and .909 save percentage in 15 appearances.
What to watch
This series could come down to which team can impose their style of play. Victoria thrives on pace, puck movement, and generating offence from the back end. Tri-City, on the other hand, will try to grind things out, slow the tempo, and make it a war of attrition.
Expect big saves at both ends, highlight-reel goals, and a clash of styles that could surprise those expecting a short series. Victoria may be the heavy favourite, but playoff hockey has a way of flipping the script.
Schedule
The Royals will open the series at home with games one and two at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Friday, March 28th (7:05 p.m.) and Saturday, March 29th (6:05 p.m.).
Games three, four, and five (if necessary) shift to Kennewick, Washington, at the Toyota Center on April 1st, 2nd, and 4th, all with 7:05 p.m. puck drops.
If the series goes the distance, games six and seven will be back in Victoria on Sunday, April 6th (3:05 p.m.) and Monday, April 7th (7:05 p.m.). Royals fans can watch the away games for free through the all new Victory + app.
For Royals fans, the message is clear: this team is built to make noise—and they’ll be looking to make Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre a tough barn to steal a win from.
Buckle up, Victoria. Playoff hockey is back, and this time, the Royals are ready.
