Sept. 23, 2011_WHL Victoria Royals

Special FeatureFriday

Sept. 23, 2011

2011-2012 Regular Season Schedule

GAME ON!

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Friday, Sept. 23 @VancouverSaturday, Sept. 24 vs. VancouverFriday, Sept. 30 @Prince GeorgeSaturday, Oct. 1 @Prince GeorgeSunday, Oct. 2 @KamloopsSaturday, Oct. 8 @ SeattleMonday, Oct. 10 @VancouverFriday, Oct. 14 vs. KelownaSaturday, Oct. 15 vs. KelownaFriday, Oct. 21 @VancouverSaturday, Oct. 22 @KelownaTuesday, Oct. 25 @Tri-CityWednesday, Oct. 26 @SpokaneFriday, Oct. 28 vs. SeattleSaturday, Oct. 29 vs. SeattleFriday, Nov. 4 vs. VancouverSaturday, Nov. 5 vs. VancouverTuesday, Nov. 8 vs. EdmontonSaturday, Nov. 12 vs. Red DeerSunday, Nov. 13 vs. Red DeerFriday, Nov. 18 @VancouverSaturday, Nov. 19 vs. KootenayFriday, Nov. 25 @ KamloopsSaturday, Nov. 26 @KelownaTuesday, Nov. 29 vs. KamloopsWednesday, Nov. 30 vs. KamloopsFriday, Dec. 2 @KelownaSaturday, Dec. 3 @KamloopsTuesday, Dec. 6 vs. Tri-CityWednesday, Dec. 7 vs. Tri-CityFriday, Dec. 9 vs. LethbridgeSaturday, Dec. 10 @ SeattleWednesday, Dec. 14 @EdmontonFriday, Dec. 16 @LethbridgeSaturday, Dec. 17 @Medicine HatWednesday, Dec. 28 @PortlandFriday, Dec. 30 @PortlandTuesday, Jan. 3 vs. CalgaryFriday, Jan 6 vs. KelownaSaturday, Jan. 7 vs. KelownaFriday, Jan. 13 @ReginaSaturday, Jan 14 @BrandonTuesday, Jan 17 @Swift CurrentWednesday, Jan. 18 @Moose JawFriday, Jan. 20 @Prince AlbertSaturday, Jan. 21 @SaskatoonFriday, Jan. 27 vs. KamloopsSaturday, Jan. 28 vs. KamloopsTuesday, Jan. 31 vs. Prince GeorgeWednesday, Feb. 1 vs. Prince GeorgeFriday, Feb. 3 @SpokaneSaturday, Feb. 4 @Tri-CityTuesday, Feb. 7 vs. EverettWednesday, Feb. 8 vs. EverettWednesday, Feb. 15 vs. CalgaryFriday, Feb. 17 vs. Prince GeorgeSaturday, Feb. 18 vs. Prince GeorgeTuesday, Feb. 22 @KamloopsFriday, Feb. 24 @Prince GeorgeSaturday, Feb. 25 @Prince GeorgeTuesday, Feb. 28 vs. SpokaneWednesday, Feb. 29 vs. SpokaneSaturday, Mar. 3 vs. VancouverSunday, Mar. 4 vs. VancouverWednesday, Mar. 7 @EverettFriday, Mar. 9 @KelownaSaturday, Mar. 10 @EverettSunday, Mar. 11 @VancouverWednesday, Mar. 14 vs. PortlandFriday, Mar. 16 vs. Portland

HOME GAMES

After honing their blades on the road during pre-season action, the Victoria Royals take to the ice tomorrow night – Saturday, Sept. 24 – for their first home game of the 2011-12 regular season.

Hosting the Vancouver Giants at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, it’s the second half of a home-and-home series that begins tonight in Vancouver. The longest home stretch for the Roy-als will be Oct. 28 through Nov. 13 when the team hosts seven games on the Island, welcoming the Seattle Thunderbirds Oct. 28 and 29, the Vancou-

ver Giants Nov. 4 and 5, the Edmonton Oil Kings Nov. 8 and the Red Deer Rebels Nov. 12 and 13.

The team travels east for their longest roadtrip of the year in January. The Royals kick off the 13-day, six-game journey in Regina on Jan. 13 before moving on to Brandon, Swift Current, Moose Jaw and Prince Albert before ending the trip on Jan. 21 versus Saskatoon.

In all, the boys in blue will play a 72-game regu-lar season schedule, with their final game at home March 16 against Portland.

Marlon Martens lends voice to the Royals’ play-by-playRoyals play-by-play guy Marlon Martens looks forward to sharing all the hockey action with fans, along with a Sunday night radio show, both on the [email protected] fm.

By Jennifer BlythBlack Press

When they can’t catch the action in person, hockey fans rely on the talents of the play-by-play person.

For the Victoria Royals and radio broadcast partner The Zone @ 91.3, that person is Marlon Martens.

Martens will call all 72 regular

season and playoffs games, which can be heard on the radio dial at 91.3 FM, www.thezone.fm, or via a live link from the Royals’ website.

The Langley, B.C. native began calling games for the B.C. Hockey League’s Burnaby Bulldogs while attending the B.C. Institute of Technology. Most recently, Mar-tens arrives in Victoria after pro-

viding play-by-play coverage for the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes from 2005 until 2007. Prior to moving into the play-by-play seat, Martens provided colour commen-tary for the team.

Martens first went on-air at Ra-dio NL in Merritt, where he even-tually became Program Manager, while also providing colour com-

At hOME with thE ROyAls

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whO’s whOSo, just who are the folks on the bench

and behind the scenes with the Victoria Royals?

hERE’s A whO’s whO:

Head Coach and GM Marc Habscheid – As a player, Marc Habscheid joined the WHL’s Saska-toon Blades before go-ing on to play 345 NHL games with Edmonton, Minnesota, Detroit and Calgary over 15 profes-sional seasons.

Coming to Victoria after two seasons with the Chilliwack Bruins, the Swift Cur-rent native was also head coach for the Kel-owna Rockets from 1997 to 2004, leading the Rockets to the Memorial Cup in 2002-03 and 2003-04, the year they won.

Habscheid was an assistant coach for Canada’s U20 World Junior team in 2001 and head coach in 2003, leading Canada to a silver medal at the World Junior Hockey Championships. He coached Canada to gold medals in consecutive World Hockey Championships (2005 and 2006), and was a member of the coaching staff for Canada’s 2006 Olympic squad in Turin, Italy.

Habscheid won a gold medal as the as-sistant coach for Canada’s 1999 National U18 Team and became the first person in Canadian hockey history to both play and coach for the National World Junior team.

Says team president Dave Dakers, “Marc has had significant success in the past and we look forward to him replicating that here.”

Assistant Coach Enio Sacilotto – Sacil-otto has 31 years of coaching experience, including as assistant coach with the Chilli-wack Bruins last season. The 53-year-old will now join the former Bruins franchise in Victoria for his second season with the team. The Vancouver na-tive has been a head coach for 20 seasons, including stops in professional leagues in Switzerland, Italy, Norway, Denmark and England, and was head coach and GM with the BCHL’s Penticton Vees.

Says Habscheid, “(Sacilotto) has a pleth-ora of experience that he will bring to the arena every day. From a continuity stand-point this is large for both the players and myself to have someone we have worked with previously.”

Assistant Coach Ben Cooper – Also from Vancouver, Cooper ar-rives from Calgary af-ter serving as Hockey Canada’s Manager of Men’s National Team Video – including Video Manager of the

2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Gold Medal-winning Canadian Men’s team – and as an Assistant Coach with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Trojans of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference last season.

“Ben is a young guy with a lot of experi-ence doing video work for Hockey Canada at the Olympics and world juniors,” Hab-

scheid says. “He wants to get into coach-ing full time after gaining a lot of practical experience behind the bench and running practices at SAIT. We’re excited to have him join our staff.”

Assistant Coach Craig Didmon – Did-mon joins the Royals’ coaching staff to pro-vide support at all home practices and games. He spent the 2010-11 season as Head Coach of the South Island Thunder-birds Major Midget team, following time as Associate Coach with the BCHL’s Victoria Grizzlies from 2007 to 2009, leading the club to the 2008-2009 BCHL regular season championship. From 2002 to 2007, Didmon was Head Coach and GM of the Victoria Cougars, where he compiled a record of 152-58-24 over five seasons, highlighted by the 2006-07 season that saw the Cougars claim the Division, League and Provincial Championships.

“Craig is well known in local hockey cir-cles and has enjoyed success at every level he’s coached at,” Habscheid says. “His pas-sion for the game of hockey and the devel-opment of young hockey players is evident in his past work. We are excited to add these traits to our staff.”

Equipment Manager Matt Auerbach – Auer-bach, 33, returns for a sixth season as Equip-ment Manager with the Royals franchise, spending the previous

mentary for the BCHL’s Merritt Centennials.“I grew up on the lower Mainland listening to the Ca-

nucks broadcasts and Jim Robson – he’s very inspiring,” says Martens, who enjoys the excitement of “not knowing what’s going to happen at the game.”

For fans, one of the great questions is how announcers can get all those names and numbers down to call the ac-tion as it happens. “Once you get your own team down, it’s just memorizing the visiting squad,” he says.

One technique to do that is watching videotaped games to get familiar with the players’ names and numbers. Mar-tens also gets plenty of in-person practice, travelling with the team and getting to know the home and opposing play-ers.

Just two-years-old the last time he was in Victoria, “it’s a breath of fresh air to be back,” says Martens, who is look-ing forward to bringing his family to the West Coast. “It’s a postcard everywhere you look.”

In addition to Martens’ play-by-play for the Royals – broadcast live on the Zone for all home and away games – fans can also tune in to 91.3 fm for his Sunday night ra-dio show, so get those questions and comments ready. “It should be fun!”

Oh, and think no one ever wins those crazy between-period contests for a new car or trip to Hawaii?

Among Martens’ career highlights was calling a game where a fan shot a puck from one end of the rink to the other and right through the requisite target – to drive home a brand new truck!

Martens

The Memorial Cup – the pinnacle of Canadian Major Junior hockey – was donat-ed by the Ontario Hockey Association in 1919 to hon-our the young men who sacrificed their lives in the First World War.

DiD yOu kNOw?

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the www.thezone.fm, or via the Royals’ website.The Langley native began calling games for

the B.C. Hockey League’s Burnaby Bulldogs while attending the B.C. Institute of Technology, before joining the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes from 2005 until 2007, where he started by offer-ing colour commentary before moving into the play-by-play seat.

Director of Hockey Op-erations and Communi-cations Jeff Harris – After spending four years as the Salmon Kings’ Assistant GM and Director of Media and Community Relations – plus the team’s play-by-play voice

– the Calgary native brings considerable expe-rience in professional sports, working with the Calgary 88s of the World Basketball League and in professional baseball with the Vancouver Ca-nadians. Harris got his start in hockey working with the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen in 2006-07 and earned the 2007-08 ECHL’s Media Relations Di-rector of the Year award for his work with the Salmon Kings.

Manager of Communi-cations and Hockey Op-erations Coordinator Matt Human – Human comes to Victoria after working in Me-dia Relations and Commu-nications with the Vancou-

ver Whitecaps FC of Major League Soccer. The Kamloops native recently graduated from the B.C. Institute of Technology’s School of Business in Marketing Management – Communications, after earning his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Victoria in 2008.

Team Mascot – Marty the Marmot! After the last four seasons with the ECHL’s Victoria Salmon Kings, Royals fans were thrilled to hear the 6’2” marmot would be back in the stands, leading the cheer at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.


for the ROyAlsmentary for the BCHL’s Merritt Centennials.“I grew up on the lower Mainland listening to the Ca-

nucks broadcasts and Jim Robson – he’s very inspiring,” says Martens, who enjoys the excitement of “not knowing what’s going to happen at the game.”

For fans, one of the great questions is how announcers can get all those names and numbers down to call the ac-tion as it happens. “Once you get your own team down, it’s just memorizing the visiting squad,” he says.

One technique to do that is watching videotaped games to get familiar with the players’ names and numbers. Mar-tens also gets plenty of in-person practice, travelling with the team and getting to know the home and opposing play-ers.

Just two-years-old the last time he was in Victoria, “it’s a breath of fresh air to be back,” says Martens, who is look-ing forward to bringing his family to the West Coast. “It’s a postcard everywhere you look.”

In addition to Martens’ play-by-play for the Royals – broadcast live on the Zone for all home and away games – fans can also tune in to 91.3 fm for his Sunday night ra-dio show, so get those questions and comments ready. “It should be fun!”

Oh, and think no one ever wins those crazy between-period contests for a new car or trip to Hawaii?

Among Martens’ career highlights was calling a game where a fan shot a puck from one end of the rink to the other and right through the requisite target – to drive home a brand new truck!

five seasons in Chilliwack in the dual role of Ath-letic Trainer and Head Therapist. Auerbach was a member of Canada’s gold medal-winning team at the recently completed Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, serving as Canada’s Summer Under-18 Equip-ment Manager.

Athletic Trainer Dylan Her-mann – Hermann joins the Royals organization after two years as a student for the train-ing staff of the ECHL’s Victoria Salmon Kings. The 22-year-old from Parksville earned a degree in Athletic and Exercise Ther-apy from Camosun College in 2011.

Strength & Conditioning/Skills Coach Jeff Compton – Compton joins the Royals after four years in a similar role with the Salmon Kings. Compton has worked with the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders and in various capacities with several NHL teams, including the Van-

couver Canucks, Dallas Stars, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Ot-tawa Senators. The Ottawa native is president of Compton Sports, which delivers specialized devel-opment programs for athletes from youth to Olympic levels.

Play-by-Play Announcer Marlon Martens – Marlon Martens will call all 72 regu-lar season games plus playoffs games, which can be heard on the radio dial at 91.3 FM, on

Photo by Jonathon Howe

Get ready for plenty of fast-paced hockey action as the Royals embark on their regular season.

Marissa Baecker, Shoot the Breeze photo

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Kevin SundherNo. 9 | CentreShoots: LHt: 6’0” | Wt: 188Hometown: Surrey, BC

Curt GogolNo. 17 | Left WingShoots: LHt: 6’1” | Wt: 188Hometown: Calgary, AB

Zane JonesNo. 14 | Left WingShoots: L Ht: 6’3”| Wt: 205Hometown:Olds, AB

Steven HodgesNo. 11 | CentreShoots: L Ht: 5’11” | Wt: 160Hometown: Delta, BC

Jamie CrooksNo. 15 | Left WingShoots: L | Ht: 5’11”| Wt: 177Hometown: Vermilion, AB

Tim TraberNo. 12 | Right WingShoots: RHt: 6’2”|Wt: 186Hometown:Quesnel, BC

Brandon MageeNo. 18 | CentreShoots: RHt: 5’7” | Wt: 161Hometown: Edmonton, AB

Emerson HrynykNo. 4 | DefenseShoots: RHt: 6’2” | Wt: 190Hometown: Okanagan Falls, BC

Tyler StahlNo. 7 | DefenceShoots: R Ht: 6’2” | Wt: 201Hometown: Drumheller, AB

Keegan KanzigNo. 5 | DefenceShoots: LHt: 6’5” | Wt: 200Hometown: Athabasca, AB

Hayden RintoulNo. 2 | DefenceShoots: LHt: 6’1 | Wt: 191Hometown: Calgary, AB

Kade PiltonNo. 8 | DefenceShoots: R Ht: 6’4” | Wt: 191Hometown: Parksville, BC

Jesse ZgraggenNo. 6 | DefenceShoots: LHt: 6’0” |Wt: 211Hometown: Lethbridge, AB

Zach HabscheidNo. 3 | DefenceShoots: RHt: 6’4” |Wt: 205Hometown: Chilliwack, BC

2011-2012ViCtORiA ROyAls ROstER

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Brendan PersleyNo. 16 | CentreShoots: L Ht: 6’0”|Wt: 195Hometown: Kelowna, BC

Marty the MarmotTeam MascotShoots: Ht: 6’2”|Wt: 240Hometown: Vancouver Island, BC

Lukas KralikNo. 20 | Right WingShoots: RHt: 6’1” | Wt: 178Hometown: Sternberk, CZE

Robin SoudekNo. 25 | Right WingShoots: R Ht: 5’11”| Wt: 172Hometown: Ceske Budejovice, CZE

Austin CarrollNo. 21 | Right WingShoots: RHt: 6’0” | Wt: 160Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ

Logan NelsonNo. 19 | CentreShoots: RHt: 6’1 |Wt: 174Hometown: Rogers, MN

Taylor CrunkNo. 22 | Left WingShoots: LHt: 5’11” |Wt: 165Hometown: San Jacinto, CA

Mike ForsythNo. 29 | Left WingShoots: LHt: 6’1” | Wt: 185Hometown: Calgary, AB

Kade PiltonNo. 8 | DefenceShoots: R Ht: 6’4” | Wt: 191Hometown: Parksville, BC

Luke HarrisonNo. 28 | CentreShoots: RHt: 6’1 |Wt: 190Hometown: Westbank BC

Jesse PaulsNo. 23 | DefenceShoots: L Ht: 5’9” |Wt: 173Hometown: Chilliwack, BC

Brett CoteNo. 27 | DefenceShoots: L Ht: 6’0” |Wt: 200Hometown: Oakbank, MB

Jared RathjenNo. 1 | GoalieShoots: L Ht: 6’2” |Wt: 180Hometown: Prince George, BC

Keith HamiltonNo. 30 | GoalieShoots: L Ht: 6’1” |Wt: 180Hometown: Kelowna, BC

Braden GambleNo. 35 | GoalieShoots: R Ht: 5’10” |Wt: 176Hometown: North Star, AB

2011-2012ViCtORiA ROyAls ROstER

Editor’s Note: At press time, the Royals still had several player moves to make to get to the league-mandated 25-man roster for Oct. 10.

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When it comes to exciting play-ers, it doesn’t get much better than veteran Kevin Sundher.

The six-foot forward grew up in Surrey, playing much of his hockey career with the Burnaby Winter Club.

Introduced to the sport by his parents, “I’ve played hockey almost my entire life – it’s something I’ve always loved to do and still do to-day,” he says.

Still in Buffalo, N.Y. at press time, attending training camp with the NHL’s Sabres, Sundher spent three weeks in Victoria before head-ing south, and he’s excited about the prospect of the Royals’ first season in the Capital.

Sundher enjoyed “quite the first impression,” both of the city and of the facilities and staff associated with the Royals, he says. “It’s a beautiful city,” and with a population of more than 300,000 people behind it, Victoria has a unique opportunity to become one of the premier stops in the Western Hockey League.

An offensive player noted not only for his point-scoring abili-ties but also his puck skills and speed, fans can also expect to see a consistent effort from the hard-working forward, who at 19 is one of the team’s leaders.

Sundher counts himself fortunate to have played with some ter-rific leaders and mentors throughout his hockey career, including teammates, captains and coaches, and he hopes to impart some of that knowledge and experience to the younger players.

“At the end of the day, I play hard to win,” he says. “To be out there and to compete with a team at a high level – there’s nothing else like that.”


For the players and coaches of the Victoria Royals, their time with the Western Hockey League is about more than hockey; it’s also about building life skills that will take them far beyond the hockey rink.

As 20-year-old defenceman Hayden Rintoul notes, “It’s not all about hockey; it’s how to be successful in life.”

As part of that commitment, don’t be surprised if you see young Royals players reading with elementary students in local schools or out supporting a charity fundraiser.

They could well be helping out at a local soup kitchen or even walking a dog or two around the community – it’s all part of giving back.

“It’s very important,” says the Royals’ Matt Human, Manager of Communications and Hockey Operations Coordinator. “We know the community supports us and we want to do the same for the community.”

Proceeds from various events have already supported such varied local organizations as the Victoria Rebels Football, Kid-sport and Tour de Rock, for example.

The team will also continue the program made popular lo-cally by the Victoria Salmon Kings hockey club, Hat Trick for Literacy, in which local elementary students read three books and write three “reports” on what they’ve read. In return, they’ll receive a ticket to a Royals game.

The Victoria Royals’ inaugural Black and White Intra-Squad Game Aug. 31 generated more than $7,000 in donations for lo-cal organizations. Sponsored by National Bank Financial Group, more than $6,500 in admission donations and chuck-a puck proceeds was raised to benefit Free The Children, the world’s largest network of children helping children through education. In addition, the game’s 50/50 sale helped generate $550 for the Westshore Rebels Football organization.

This past weekend, several players were at Uptown, flipping pancakes and playing in the Hockey for Hospitals fundraiser, while others were on hand for the Royals’ open house and “ga-rage sale.” All proceeds from the garage sale will be donated to Kidsport, helping to provide children between the ages of five and 18 access to sport opportunities and experiences in both team and individual sports ‘So All Kids Can Play.’

“It’s part of the culture of the Royals organization,” Human says.

ONE tO wAtCh:

Kevin Sundher brings skill, speed & commitment

DiD yOu kNOw?

The Western Hockey League’s top prize, the Ed Chynoweth Cup, is named for the first full-time WHL president and long-time Canadian Hockey League president, Ed Chynoweth.

Community is a key focus for players & management

““We know the community supports us and we want to do the same for the community.”

– Matt Human

Photo by Jonathon HoweThe Royals’ mascot, Marty the Marmot, is a fan favourite.

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Long before players make it to the Vic-toria Royals or any team in the WHL, they’ll have caught the eye of a scout or two, watching from the sidelines at rinks across the country.

Heading up that role for the Victoria Royals is Director of Scouting, Garry Pochipinski.

Based in Olds, AB, Pochipinski coached for many years with Prince Albert Minor Hockey in Saskatchewan and through that time, “I was asked by different teams for information on players,” he recalls.

From that experience, Pochipinski first became a regional scout and then went on to today’s position with the Royals, in which he and a number of others are re-sponsible for keeping an eye on up-and-coming players the coaches may want to watch.

While Pochipinski is responsible large-ly for B.C. and Alberta, Jim McInness looks after Saskatchewan and Manitoba and Glen Carrier for the U.S. players.

“It’s a fun job and a lot of work, too,” Pochipinski says, pointing out that most scouts also have full-time jobs. He also credits his wife – a hockey fan, thankfully – for allowing him many, many hours at ice rinks around Western Canada.

“I have to thank my wife for being as understanding as she is to allow me to pursue my passion – it’s quite a commit-ment and it’s a gift from her to me to me allow me to do this.

“I guess it’s just a passion for the game. It’s watching these players (develop) and you pride yourself in seeing how success-ful they become.”

With the Royals, “it will be fun to watch and see how (the season) goes. It will be exciting this year to see how they prog-

ress. It’s all very positive.”At the same time, scouting is a learning

process like anything else, and Pochipin-ski is always looking at “where can I im-prove? Where can I do a better job?”

Travelling around the country, if he’s watching a game that includes his or-ganization’s listed players, he’ll zero in on them and see how they’re progress-ing and developing, he says. At the same time, “you’re always looking for players that aren’t listed and make adjustments as necessary.”

When scouting for the Bantam draft, in which graduating Bantam players are selected as draft picks by WHL teams, he’ll largely focus on those skaters – 1997-born players, this year – though the

odd younger player might appear as one to watch.

The keys: consistency, competitive spirit and skill set, and how they apply them in game situations. “Do they have courage and will, and do they display that? So many changes go through play-ers in between 13 and 17 – you can’t al-ways predict what will happen.”

In discussions with players and their parents, Pochipinski emphasizes the im-portance of character and how they con-duct themselves, because that, just like players’ on-ice skill, is a key component in the evaluation process. As a scout, he looks at all those factors thoroughly, in evaluating players to recommend to the Royals.

When it comes to exciting play-ers, it doesn’t get much better than veteran Kevin Sundher.

The six-foot forward grew up in Surrey, playing much of his hockey career with the Burnaby Winter Club.

Introduced to the sport by his parents, “I’ve played hockey almost my entire life – it’s something I’ve always loved to do and still do to-day,” he says.

Still in Buffalo, N.Y. at press time, attending training camp with the NHL’s Sabres, Sundher spent three weeks in Victoria before head-ing south, and he’s excited about the prospect of the Royals’ first season in the Capital.

Sundher enjoyed “quite the first impression,” both of the city and of the facilities and staff associated with the Royals, he says. “It’s a beautiful city,” and with a population of more than 300,000 people behind it, Victoria has a unique opportunity to become one of the premier stops in the Western Hockey League.

An offensive player noted not only for his point-scoring abili-ties but also his puck skills and speed, fans can also expect to see a consistent effort from the hard-working forward, who at 19 is one of the team’s leaders.

Sundher counts himself fortunate to have played with some ter-rific leaders and mentors throughout his hockey career, including teammates, captains and coaches, and he hopes to impart some of that knowledge and experience to the younger players.

“At the end of the day, I play hard to win,” he says. “To be out there and to compete with a team at a high level – there’s nothing else like that.”

ONE tO wAtCh:

Hayden Rintoul leads by experienceBy Jennifer BlythBlack Press

When it comes to the playoffs, a little experience can go a long way.

For the Victoria Royals, de-fenceman Hayden Rintoul offers that – and more.

A summer acquisition from the Kootenay Ice, the 20-year-old Rintoul finished his 2010-11 sea-son with 24 points (5g-19a) and 51 penalty minutes in 51 games.

The Calgary native played in 19 postseason games for Koote-nay this past spring, registering a goal and three assists, helping the Ice secure the Ed Chynoweth Cup as the Western Hockey League Champions. As part of Kootenay’s Memorial Cup squad, 6’0, 187 lb Rintoul played in all five games.

Since arriving in Victoria, Rintoul has been “working out and skating to get ready for the season,” he says. And getting to know his new city. “Everyone seems to be very excited about (the team) and it’s really exciting to be in an atmosphere like this.”

In announcing Rintoul’s move, GM and Head Coach Marc Habscheid noted that after losing two overage defencemen after last season in Jeff Einhorn and Brandon Manning, “Hayden will step into that role this year and help solidify our defensive corps, while providing leadership and championship experience.”

Looking ahead to the Royals’ inaugural season in Victoria, Rintoul looks forward taking a leadership role with the team. As a senior player, and one with invaluable playoff experience, he hopes to impart to some of the younger players the benefits of a good work ethic and time management skills – skills that will serve them well both on ice and off. “I want to help them out,” he says. “I want to be someone they can look up to and who they would want to be like when they get older.”

Playing in the Western Hockey League offers players so much more than the opportunity to hone their hockey skills, he re-flects. “There’s so many more things you learn – not just about hockey, but about life.”

So, what has kept him passionate about the sport throughout his minor hockey and WHL career? “What’s not to love?” he asks. “Being with friends, working hard and making each other bet-ter...It’s just fun for me.”

The team will also continue the program made popular lo-cally by the Victoria Salmon Kings hockey club, Hat Trick for Literacy, in which local elementary students read three books and write three “reports” on what they’ve read. In return, they’ll receive a ticket to a Royals game.

The Victoria Royals’ inaugural Black and White Intra-Squad Game Aug. 31 generated more than $7,000 in donations for lo-cal organizations. Sponsored by National Bank Financial Group, more than $6,500 in admission donations and chuck-a puck proceeds was raised to benefit Free The Children, the world’s largest network of children helping children through education. In addition, the game’s 50/50 sale helped generate $550 for the Westshore Rebels Football organization.

This past weekend, several players were at Uptown, flipping pancakes and playing in the Hockey for Hospitals fundraiser, while others were on hand for the Royals’ open house and “ga-rage sale.” All proceeds from the garage sale will be donated to Kidsport, helping to provide children between the ages of five and 18 access to sport opportunities and experiences in both team and individual sports ‘So All Kids Can Play.’

“It’s part of the culture of the Royals organization,” Human says.

wAtChiNG thE GAME with AN EAGlE EyE:

Scouting the next great players

Photos by Jonathon Howe

Consistency, skill and a competitive spirit are all key to a player wanting to play in the WHL, says Director of Scouting Gary Pochipinski.

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GEt yOuR tiCkEts hERE!

Royals tickets a hot commodity

When the puck drops on the Victoria Roy-als’ first home game tomorrow night, where will you catch the action?

If you’re like several thousand other Southern Vancouver Islanders, chances are it will be from the Save-on-Foods Memorial Arena!

Response to the season ticket sales has been very strong, and fans can choose from a selection of additional ticket packages, in ad-dition to single game tickets. Season tickets are also still available and will be offered at pro-rated prices once the season starts.

“The Sept. 24 home opener will be an electric atmosphere and we expect enor-mous demand for the debut of the Royals,” says Director of Ticketing Devin Mazur. “If Season Ticket and Mini Pack sales are any in-dication, fans should move quickly to secure their seat.”

Through the regular season, fans can catch exciting WHL action 36 times live in Victoria as the Royals welcome opponents such as the Vancouver Giants, Prince George Cougars, Red Deer Rebels and Portland Winterhawks.

For those who can’t make it to every game, the Royals’ Mini-Packs offer both savings and flexibility:

• Half-Season packages start at $252, offer-ing the season ticket discount for 18 games

you choose.• Super Saturdays, priced from $140, al-

low you to see all the team’s Saturday home games.

• Weekday Warrior, from $100, lets you catch eight weekday games at a terrific val-ue.

• Prospects Pack, from $100, lets you see the WHL’s best, with five games plus two vouchers.

Vouchers, which allow fans to choose their seats and games, include:

• 6 Pack for $87• 12 Pack for $168• Club 6 Pack for $150

Prices for single game tickets are $12 in the upper corner and end sections, $15 for seats in the corners and ends, $18 and $19.50 for seats along the sides and $25 for club seats. There are also child rates of $12 and senior/student rates of $15 in all non-club seating.

For those still looking to secure their seat all season long, season tickets start at $396 while Mini-Packs start at $87. For more de-tails or to purchase tickets, stop by the Victo-ria Royals Ticket Office, visit online at www.victoriaroyals.com, e-mail [email protected] or call 250-220-7889.

wEAR yOuR tEAM ON yOuR slEEVE!Whether it’s a brand new jersey for their new

favourite team or a cheerful foam finger to predict where the Royals will finish the season, fan ware is a huge part of any team.

And as Victoria prepares to welcome its WHL team’s first regular season home game, team products are flying off the shelves.

“The Royals Team Store has definitely had a steady stream of visitors coming in to see what available to get themselves ready for the home opener on the 24th!” says Alexandra Zaruk, Guest Services & Merchandise Manager.

First up for many are baseball hats, Zaruk says. “They’re a good staple item for fans.

“The surprise item would probably be the lanyards that we have and our golf towels.”

In the next few weeks, Royals fans will want to look for new styles and colours in hats, along with more t-shirt options for men, ladies and youth, plus sweatpants, Zaruk says. Both the full-zip hooded sweatshirt and the pullover hoodies have also proven popular.

Kid favourites? “Definitely the royal blue and red foam fin-gers!”

Ticket options allow for flexibility and savings

Royals make ‘Mad Mondays’ the best day of the week

The Victoria Royals know how to deal with a case of the Mondays: give them a catchy name and a blues-blasting offer!

During the 2011-12 WHL regu-lar season, fans can take advantage of “Mad Mondays,” offering the chance to purchase tickets to see the Royals live at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre from the upper rows of the arena’s end sec-tions for an unbelievable price of just $5!

Tickets will be available at the Select Your Tickets box-office ev-ery Monday of the regular reason for that week’s games only.

Only a limited number of stan-dard and wheelchair-accessible seats will be released for each game, so they won’t last long. Purchases are limited to four tickets per per-son per game.

The Royals’ Darren Parker checks out some of the team’s hot-selling fan gear.

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Sept. 23, 2011_WHL Victoria Royals