The Victoria Royals have made two major announcements regarding how to watch their games at home and their leadership ahead of this weekend’s historic series.
Royals fans will have a new (and still free) place to watch the team this season.
The Western Hockey League (WHL) announced Wednesday that every game during the 2026-27 regular season will stream free on the WHL’s YouTube channel on an interim basis.
The sudden move follows the collapse of Victory+, which had served as the league’s exclusive livestreaming partner since March 2025.
While the WHL described the platform’s future as uncertain in its announcement, reports indicate Victory+ has been dissolved by its parent company following the loss of several major sports partners and financial difficulties.
The change means Royals fans will not need to purchase a new subscription to follow the team when the WHL season begins on Friday, September 18th. Games will be available anywhere fans can access YouTube, including phones, computers and compatible smart TVs.
WHL Commissioner Dan Near said keeping games easy to access remains a priority as the league works to grow its audience.
“By moving WHL regular-season games to YouTube on a short-term basis, we are protecting that access for fans,” said Near.
Victory+ carried two WHL playoff runs and the entire 2025-26 regular season, with millions of viewers tuning in. During that partnership, clubs also invested in upgraded broadcasts, including additional cameras, intermission programming and more original content.
The league says that production quality will be maintained on YouTube, with more information expected before the regular season gets underway.
Royals name Miles Cooper captain
The streaming announcement comes as the Royals continue putting the pieces in place for a highly anticipated new season.
The club announced this week that forward Miles Cooper has been named the 11th captain in franchise history.
The Calgary-born player is entering his second season in Victoria after being acquired from the Wenatchee Wild shortly before the 2025-26 campaign.
Cooper has recorded 143 points in 189 career WHL games, including 10 goals and 27 assists over 50 games last season.
Royals Head Coach James Patrick described Cooper as a respected teammate who competes every day and leads by example.
“When you look for a captain, you look for a player that is respected by his teammates, competes every day and leads by example,” Patrick said.
“Miles checks all those boxes.”
The Royals said they will name their assistant captains at a later date.
A historic hockey weekend in Victoria
Before the regular season begins, Royals fans have a major reason to head to Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre this Labour Day weekend.
Victoria will host the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights for the two-game Clash of the Kingdoms showcase at 7 p.m. on Friday, September 4th and at 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 5th.
The series is being billed as the first inter-league meeting between WHL and OHL clubs outside of the Memorial Cup, bringing two of the Canadian Hockey League’s top organizations together in Victoria.
London arrives after winning the 2025 Memorial Cup, while Victoria enters the season with a retooled roster and high expectations. The weekend is expected to feature 10 NHL-drafted players, along with several highly rated prospects eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft.
There will also be a local connection for Vancouver Canucks fans, with London goaltender and 2025 second-round pick Alexei Medvedev among the prospects expected to take part.
An outdoor Fan Fest featuring live music, games and other activities will add to the atmosphere around the arena.
With a new captain, a new free streaming home and one of the most unique preseason events in CHL history, excitement around the Royals is quickly building.
Grab your tickets for this weekend’s events here!
Clash of the Kingdoms
- Where: Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, 1925 Blanshard Street
- When:
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- Friday, September 4th – puck drop at 7:05 p.m.
- Saturday, September 5th – puck drop at 4 p.m.
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