In their first two games of the season, Victoria Royals forward Dino Kambeitz has delivered the offense in his team’s victories. In last Friday’s shootout, he fired a wrist shot to secure the extra point for his club versus the Prince George Cougars. Kambeitz followed that up on Saturday by contributing a two-point night, tallying a goal and an assist in the 5-1 victory over the Cougars.
. @dino_kambeitz21 with the fifth-round shootout winner for the @victoriaroyals!!! #WHLOpeningWeek pic.twitter.com/DkJwsFVWli
— The WHL (@TheWHL) September 22, 2018
Kambeitz looks to be one of the players to step up on this year’s Royals team, as some opportunities and top minutes are available. The second year forward is skating with confidence and shooting the puck, something the team is likely happy to see. Kambeitz started the season centering on a fast but scrappy line with wingers Tarun Fizer and Phillip Schultz. “I think we had good offensive zone time.” Recalled Kambeitz after Friday’s opener, “I think we are going to gel and get better and better.”
Last season, Kambeitz played in 69 regular season games, his first full season with the Royals. He was limited to appearing in only three of Victoria’s playoff games, after being injured in game one versus the Vancouver Giants.
Kambeitz hails from Parker, Colorado and was selected by the Royals in the 2015 WHL bantam draft in the fifth round, 90th overall. Before the Royals, he played for Edge School Prep based out of Calgary, AB and was part of the team that captured the CSSHL championship.
Saturday Special Teams
This past Saturday saw the Royals defeat the Cougars by a score of 5-1, with all of Victoria’s goals coming via the special teams. Victoria scored three goals on the powerplay and two while shorthanded to down Prince George. The short-handed goals came in the first period from Kaid Oliver and Tyler Less, with Oliver’s beauty effort getting noticed as the WHL’s representative in the #CIBCShowdown.
Victoria then reeled off three straight powerplay goals from D-Jay Jerome, Kambeitz and Ralph Jarratt. Griffen Outhouse was outstanding again, stopping 25 of 26 shots he faced. Outhouse is off to a fine form in the first couple games, going 2-0 with a 1.02 GAA and 0.964 save percentage.
Hot Blazers come to town
The Victoria Royals next welcome the Kamloops Blazers to town for a pair of weekend games, battling it out Friday and Saturday. The Blazers downed the Kelowna Rockets in their opening weekend, winning both contests while out-scoring Kelowna 7 to 2 over those games. Kelowna was this writer’s pick to win the competitive BC Division and the upcoming weekend games will be a great measuring stick for both teams.
News & Notes
- Royals Captain Matthew Phillips is on his way to California. The Calgary Flames sent their prospect to the Stockton Heat of the AHL as the Flames prepare to make their final cuts. Phillips showed well in camp and preseason, including scoring a goal for this hometown team the Flames
Matt Phillips post game, after scoring a goal for his hometown Flames last night. "I've watched a lot of games here. To play in front of that crowd and to get a goal there…it was a fun night." https://t.co/sZn5V9y0jt @mattphillips_8 @victoriaroyals pic.twitter.com/KdrnKANMxC
— Marlon Martens (@VoiceVicRoyals) September 26, 2018
- As mentioned in yesterday’s DAILY DOSE OF THE DUB by Jordan O’Brien (@JordanRaptors ) the Royals traded goaltender Dean McNabb to the Regina Pats. With the move, look for Brock Gould to dress as backup to Outhouse.
