(Victoria, BC) The Victoria Royals are clearly not afraid of change. On Wednesday they made a trade which saw a three-year Royal sent from the coast to the prairies and they added a former NHL All-Star to their coaching staff.
Jared #27 for Jared #27
The Royals and Red Deer Rebels completed a trade Wednesday, swapping a pair of number 27’s. Acquired by Victoria was defenceman Jared Freadrich (’98). He’s an “offensive” defenceman likely to get top-four minutes. The Rebels had blue line depth and General Manager and Head Coach Brent Sutter told reddeerrebels.com: “When you have nine defencemen it makes it hard to find playing time for them all.” After starting last season with the Regina Pats, Freadrich was moved to Red Deer where he tallied 30 points (6G, 24A) in 64 games with the Rebels.
Going from Victoria was forward Jared Dmytriw (’98), a fan favourite noted for his speed and effort. Originally drafted by the Royals in the 2013 WHL Bantam draft, Dmytriw played in 207 games all with Victoria, putting up 59 points (33G, 26A) in that time. In a team release, Royals president & general manager, Cameron Hope said “Saying goodbye to Jared is especially difficult. He has been a Royal since he was sixteen, and he his family have been a part of this team since we drafted him. We wish him every success in the future.”
The move Wednesday by the Royals marks the second time recently they have moved a forward to acquire a defenceman with WHL experience. Last month, they traded winger Blake Bargar to Seattle, landing Anthony Bishop in return. With veteran players Ryan Gagnon aging out, Marsel Ibragimov signing in the KHL and Chaz Reddekopp looking likely to be in the AHL this season, it’s clear the Royals felt they had to add some experience to their defense corps.
“Roli” the All-Star Goalie to Coach
Also on Wednesday the Royals announced that former NHL player Dwayne Roloson was joining the coaching staff as a consulting coach. The goaltender played in 606 regular season games and an additional 50 playoff games in the NHL. He was named an NHL All-Star in the 2003-04 season while with the Minnesota Wild.
Last year he was an assistant coach for both the Shawnigan Lake School Midget Varsity and Bantam Prep teams of the Canadian Sport Hockey League. Prior to that he served as a goaltending consultant for the Anaheim Ducks for parts of three seasons form 2013-16.
With the addition of Roloson, the Royals now boast a nice compliment of goaltending mentors for the team. Goaltending coach Lynden Sammartino returns this year to continue to develop Griffen Outhouse and Dylan Myskiw, and new head coach Dan Price is also a former goaltender. It is clear the Victoria netminders are in good hands.
News and Notes
- On Wednesday the Royals announced that last week’s intra-squad game raised more that $3,000 for the Salvation Army BC Wildfire relief efforts
- Newly signed forward Jared Legien continued to impress with three goals in two preseason games. He netted two goals against Kamloops on Friday and added another on Saturday versus Kelowna
- Former Royal Brandon Magee will join the University of Alberta Golden Bears for the 2017-18 season. After time in the ECHL and Chinook League, Magee will join other former WHL players Tyson Baille, Trevor Cox, Steven Owre and Luke Philp on the defending Canada West champion Golden Bears roster.
