The Victoria Royals head into training camp with some new faces on the blueline.
With longtime fixtures Ralph Jarrett (aged-out) and Scott Walford (trade with Saskatoon) no longer in the fold, the d-corps will have a new look.
Veterans Will Warm and Nolan Jones were acquired in a busy offseason. Added to the mix are young prospects Noah Lamb, Kaden Reinders, Carson Golder, and 16-year-old Nolan Bentham, all of whom look to push for a full time role with the club. Established Royals Mitchell Prowse, Jameson Murray, Matthew Smith, and Remy Aquilon will look to hold onto their standing and hold off the new players.
“When players show up for training camp, you don’t like to determine ahead of time who you think is going to be filling those slots,” said Victoria Royals President & General Manager Cameron Hope. “We have 2002- and 2003-born players that are going to be pushing to play this year.”
A mix of old and new
Over the past two seasons, Mitchell Prowse has established himself as the Royals’ most consistent defenceman. While not overly flashy, the Kelowna, BC, native has developed his defensive game and earned the trust of the coaching staff. Coming off his best offensive year with 21 points (3g, 18a), the 19-year-old will have a lot of opportunity to grow that side of his game.
“Prowse is an interesting player,” said Hope. “While he’s not the guy delivering the big hit or score 20 goals, he does everything right. And you’re never afraid to put them on the ice in all situations. He just gets better and better all the time.”
Jameson Murray was arguably Victoria’s most improved player last season. Defensively solid, in his first year with the Royals, he had his best season and career highs with 19 points (3g, 16a) in 59 games. One of four 20-year-olds in camp, Murray will be fighting to show he is worth a valuable overage spot.
Matthew Smith saw some injuries in his second year with the club. As a result, his numbers declined. This season, he will look to bounce back and establish himself as a veteran to build around in coming seasons.
Remy Aquilon will look to continue to develop and grow within the organization. Another year under his belt will surely help.
Acquired early this summer was Will Warm from the Edmonton Oil Kings. Looking to bounce back from a season that saw him sidelined and limited to just 33 games, Warm will be given lots of opportunity to show he fits into the Royals’ mix. Like Murray, he will be fighting for one of the overage spots with the team.
In a recent trade, Nolan Jones was acquired from the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Like Warm, Jones will look to adapt quickly to his new team and coaching staff, while also developing into a future cornerstone for the team to build around.
Young lions
Pushing the veterans this year is a crop of prospects in Noah Lamb, Kaden Reinders, Carson Golder, and 16-year-old Nolan Bentham.
In a late audition at the end of last season and playoffs, Lamb impressed with play and awareness. Barring a developmental setback, the 17-year-old looks primed for a regular role with the team.
Reinders and Golder are scratching at the door, looking to make the big club. Both will push the veterans for ice time, and roster players Smith and Aquilon will have to fend off these young challengers.
Nolan Bentham is also on the radar for the Royals. Victoria’s first-round draft pick in 2018, Bentham participated in Hockey Canada’s Under-17 Camp this summer. This year’s training camp will be a good measuring stick for the club’s prized prospect.
The young prospects have already led to some changes and were a factor in the trade of Parker Malchuk to the Saskatoon Blades.
Hope described the situation. “Malchuk was in a position where he was going to have to fend off all of those hungry guys or risk being in a similar situation as last year, where he was a healthy scratch for a number of games. And that’s difficult. Once a guy gets to be 18 years old, I’m sure he thinks that he should be able to play regularly. The move gives that player a chance a better chance somewhere else.”
Power-play quarterback
An area to watch through camp and preseason will be the emergence of a power-play quarterback. With the trade of Walford, the role seemed open for the taking.
“We have three guys who, at some point in their careers, were that go-to guy on the power-play point,” offered Hope. “Will Warm was a power-play quarterback for some of his time at Edmonton between his injuries. Nolan Jones coming up through minor hockey led his team in scoring from the defensive position. And when we drafted Prowse, he was a guy who was a first unit power point guy. So all of these guys should be ready to take on that role at the WHL level.”
Victoria, however, is not afraid to offer different looks with the man advantage.
“Our coaching staff likes to go with just one, sometimes no defenceman, for at least as part of one of the units we deploy in a power play,” said Hope. “It’s up to the coaches to see who fits those molds as we get through preseason. But we’re not afraid to have five guys out there regardless of what their position is.”
Victoria Royals Rookie camp begins Saturday, Aug.24th. Main camp opens Monday, August 26th.
