I would like to start off my first post of the year with one simple word.
Welcome.
Welcome to the first edition of my Royal Rumble series.
Welcome to the 2021-22 Victoria Royals season, and after 580 long days, welcome back to the Save On Foods Memorial Centre.
On October 2nd, 2021 Victoria will play host to their rival, the Vancouver Giants, for their regular-season home opener. The roar of the Royals faithful will be a welcome sound compared to the silence that has haunted the halls.
Now that I have completely overused the word in order to accentuate my first sentence, let us dive deeper into the highlights of the season.
I can’t efficiently explain how excited I am to watch this young group grow and evolve after a trying “bubble season” last year. I have my eye on a few players that I will be focusing on in future “Royal Rumble” articles. At the end of the day, I am immensely excited for the fans and the whole team to experience the atmosphere of live hockey once again.
Obviously, the home opener will be a much-anticipated event. The first of two theme event nights that I find very important is the Canadian Forces Appreciation Night on Nov 6th versus the Kamloops Blazers. I have a personal connection to this event having a father that served in the Navy for 20 years. I myself am also employed with the Department of National Defence. It is always an interesting night with plenty of booths featuring information and equipment used by the military.
The second night I’d like to highlight, especially given the current situation, is the Hockey for Hospitals night on Nov 26th versus the Everett Silvertips. It has been an extremely trying year for all hospital personnel. In a time of crisis, hospitals are in dire need of staff, supplies, and equipment. This event can be a great fundraiser for the local hospitals so I encourage as many people as possible to come out for this event and help as much as you can.
Another highlight that is always a great time, is the Teddy Bear Toss night slated for Friday, Dec. 17th against the Tri-City Americans. Days before Christmas, what better way to support local charities and have fun doing it?
Looking for something more retro? There are four “Way Back Wednesday” games this season that should scratch that itch. Got some neon in your closet? December 29th against the Giants brings back the 80s. Expect some great hair and some super cheesy music. Are you more of a “Grunge” fan? January 26th versus the Rockets and the Save On Foods Centre will go full plaid and baggy jeans with 90s night. While facing the Winterhawks on March 9th, Y2K will again rear its head with the Royals’ 2K night. I can only assume boy bands, Beyonce, and…..Britney Spears? Just a guess haha. Finally capping off their retro “Way Back Wednesday series, March 23rd against the Rockets, it is “2k42” night. Your guess is as good as mine as to what this means. This whole idea sounds like a blast though so I’m sure it will be a fun evening.
Last and certainly not least is Saturday, March 26th versus the Prince George Cougars. This will be over a year in the making. The annual Royals Fan Appreciation Night (which was missed the last two seasons due to COVID) should be well worth the price of admission. The organization always does these nights right with plenty of prizes, events, games and other entertainment throughout the night. After playing a full season away from home, with no fans in attendance, I KNOW this game will mean a lot to the players as well. Regardless of the team’s position in the standings, expect 115% effort from the guys and the same from the game night arena staff. Make sure you mark this one on your calendar.
I am so excited to get this 2021-22 Victoria Royals season going, and you are WELCOME to come along for the ride with me.
