Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the Dub: Royals move onto second round; Monthly, Weekly awards handed out; Americans captain signed to ATO

Written by Stephen Hawco on

Royals advance

The Victoria Royals earned the final spot in the Western Conference semi-finals with a 4-1 win over Kamloops to take the series four games to two. This marks the fifth time in the last six seasons they have advanced to the second round, never making it to the Conference Finals. Victoria will take on the Vancouver Giants which will be a rematch of last year’s Western Conference quarter-finals that Victoria won in seven games. The series gets underway on Friday in Langley.

Awards handed out

Vancouver Giants forward Davis Koch was named WHL Player of the Month for March after leading the league in scoring during that span. The overager had 24 points (5G, 19A) in 14 games, including 10 in six first round games. Koch had 78 points (28G, 50A) in 67 games, a career high.

Saskatoon Blades goalie Nolan Maier was named WHL Goaltender of the Month for the month of March, earning a 9-0-0-0 record with a 1.64 GAA, a .930 save percentage and two shutouts, including a sweep of the Moose Jaw Warriors in their first round match up. The second year Blade had a 36-10-6-0 record with a 2.64 GAA, a .910 save percentage and four shutouts.

Spokane Chiefs forward Adam Beckman was named WHL Rookie of the Month with 17 points (9G, 8A) in 14 games in March, including five points (3G, 2A) in five playoff games. The 17-year-old had 62 points (32G, 30A) in 68 games this season.

Vancouver Giants defenceman Bowen Byram was named WHL Player of the Week after posting six points (2G, 4A) in four games during the Giants’ series win over Seattle. The 2019 NHL Draft prospect had eight points (3G, 5A) in six games in the first round and had 71 points (26G, 45A) in 67 games this season.

Everett Silvertips goalie Dustin Wolf was named WHL Goaltender of the Week with a 2-1-0-0 record, a 1.34 GAA, a .945 save percentage and a shutout. The 17-year-old went 4-0-1-0 with a 1.60 GAA, a .937 save percentage and a shutout in their first round win over Tri-City and had a 41-15-2-2 record with a 1.69 GAA, a .936 save percentage and seven shutouts this season.

Yaremko signs ATO

Tri-City Americans captain and graduating forward Nolan Yaremko has signed an Amateur Tryout with the Stockton Heat of the AHL, affiliate of the Calgary Flames. The overager had 66 points (28G, 38A) in 68 games this season and spent his entire four-year WHL career with the Americans, appearing in 278 games with 159 points (67G, 92A).

Three Stars of the Night

1st Star: Victoria’s Brandon Cutler had two goals to help advance the Royals to the second round.

2nd Star: Victoria’s Phillip Schultz had two assists in the 4-1 win.

3rd Star: Victoria’s Griffen Outhouse stopped 34 of 35 shots in the win.

Honourable Mentions

The Kamloops Blazers’ graduating players, captain Jermaine Loewen (142 points in 295 games all with Kamloops), Jeff Faith (29 points in 230 games between Spokane and Kamloops), and goaltender Dylan Ferguson (61-72-5-6 record with a 3.04 GAA, a .908 save percentage and three shutouts in 155 games with Kamloops).