River Fahey, Riley Gannon, and Nolan Bentham will play Friday as Victoria Royals for their first WHL game in front of a home crowd as the club battles the Prince George Cougars.
With all three players native to Vancouver Island, the game holds some special meaning. Family and friends will be in attendance to support the newest Royals.
“It’s going be special for sure,” said Fahey. “A lot of family coming to the game.” Originally from Campbell River, BC, Fahey was acquired in the summer from the Kootenay ICE. Prior to his time in the WHL, Fahey played for the North Island Silvertips (2017-18) and Greater Vancouver Canadians (2016-17) of the BC Major Midget Hockey League and the Victoria, BC-based Pacific Coast Hockey Academy (PCHA) of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (2016-17).
“My whole family is coming,” said Gannon, who hails from Nanaimo, BC. “It’s definitely the biggest game I have played in so far of my career.” Acquired from the Saskatoon Blades as part of the deal for Scott Walford, Gannon spent last season in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) with the Nanaimo Buccaneers. Prior to his time with the Buccaneers, Gannon played for his hometown North Island Silvertips of the BC Major Midget Hockey League.
With family and friends in attendance for a first home game, nerves are bound to be a factor.
“A little bit of nerves,” said Bentham. “Pretty cool though.” The 16-year-old Bentham played his minor hockey locally for the Victoria Racquet Club Association and was the team’s first selection, 13th overall, at the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft.
Friday’s matchup marks a unique event. In the history of the Royals, there has never been so much Island grown talent in the lineup all at once. While a club featuring a lineup of local players may be more common to places such as Brandon, Winnipeg, and Lethbridge, it has been more of a rarity for Victoria. Not to say there hasn’t been top-notch WHL talent from Vancouver Island; Brendan De Jong (formerly of the Portland Winterhawks) and Dylan Garand (currently of the Kamloops Blazers) spring to mind.
All three players followed the Royals while they were growing up, looking up to the players and the league. For Victoria, the franchise’s age is beginning to show. Once young fans are now progressing into WHL level talents.
“When I was younger, I came down and watched a few games,” said Fahey. “I always looked up to the WHL.”
Gannon added, “It’s like a dream come true. I used to come to Royals games as a kid all the time.”
For the defenceman Bentham, he shows his allegiance. “I was a big fan, watching players like Chaz Reddekopp, Joe Hicketts, Scott Walford, all those different Royals defensemen.”
The ideal scenario would be to score the game winner in front of family and friends. “Hopefully, that would be awesome,” said Gannon with a smile.
Victoria faces the Cougars at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Friday, with puck drop at 7:05 pm.
