The Victoria Royals and the Everett Silvertips allow the fewest goals of any two teams in the WHL and it isn’t close.
The U.S. Division-leading Silvertips (32-17-2-2, 68 points) lead the league, allowing an average of 2.19 goals per game. The Royals (35-15-2-3, 75 points) are next at 2.29. From there it jumps to 2.77 (Lethbridge) and 2.79 (Brandon and Red Deer).
So the final of Victoria’s 6-4 victory over Everett Monday probably struck many as odd — particularly since all 10 goals came in the final two periods.
“(Everett) worked for their goals,” Victoria head coach Dave Lowry told Mario Annicchiarico of the Victoria Times-Colonist. “We made some poor decisions, but I give them credit. They capitalized on their opportunities, but we’re a team that can score. I don’t know if we get enough credit for it, but we can score goals.”
Indeed they can. The Royals average 3.62 goals per game, nearly a full goal better than the Silvertips at 2.70.
Homecoming for Bajkov
Everett forward Patrick Bajkov hails from Nanaimo, B.C., a city north of Victoria on Vancouver Island. He had plenty of fans and well-wishers at Monday’s game.
Bajkov made plenty of ferry trips from the island to the mainland as a bantam and midget player prior to joining the Silvertips for the 2013-14 season.
“The Vancouver teams are usually pretty strong because they have a lot more (players) to choose from,” Bajkov said of his pre-WHL days. “But on the island there is some good competition. There are a handful of teams that are pretty good.”
Bajkov played one season in the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League as a 15-year-old prior to joining the Everett Silvertips.
The name of Bajkov’s midget team? The North Island Silvertips.
Americans, Chiefs heat up
The two hottest U.S. Division teams lately are the two from east of the Cascades. The Tri-City Americans are 7-2-0-1 in their last 10 while the Spokane Chiefs are 6-4.
The Americans haven’t lost in regulation in six games and are now sitting just three points back of Portland for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff berth.
Meanwhile Spokane entered Tuesday only two points back of Seattle for second place in the division with a game in hand over the Thunderbirds.
With 19 games remaining the Silvertips still control their fate. Everett plays Seattle and Tri-City four more times each, and Portland and Spokane three more times each. The Tips also play Victoria three more times and Kamloops and Kelowna once each.
WHL commissioner given extension
The WHL announced Tuesday that it has given commissioner Ron Robison a five-year contract extension that keeps him in place through the 2020-21 season.
Robison is in his 16th year in charge of the league.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be entrusted by the Board of Governors to continue serving as WHL Commissioner,” Robison said in a press release. “In our 50th Season, the WHL continues to grow and serve as a world leader in the hockey industry and I look forward to playing a key leadership role in the seasons ahead.”
Provorov, Burman honored
Two WHL players competed so well last week that the entire CHL took notice.
Brandon Wheat Kings defenseman Ivan Provorov was named the CHL Player of the Week after recording two goals and seven assists as Brandon won three times last week. He is the fifth WHLer to earn the award this season.
Swift Current goaltender Taz Burman was named the CHL Goaltender of the Week after posting a 2-0-0-1 mark with a 0.97 goals against average and a .971 save percentage. The Broncos are currently in 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings, but are one of the hottest teams in the conference with a 7-2-0-1 mark their last 10 games.
Burman is the sixth WHL goalie to win the award this season.
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