Royals Mid-Season Review

The Season So Far

  The Royals started off their inaugural season with a decent 8-8-1 record.  They dropped a couple close games early on, but they were winning a lot of games that quite a few experts considered guaranteed losses for the Royals.  As the season grew on, those predictions started to unfold.  The Royals started to show signs of being a young team without much experience.  Consistency became a problem for the young hockey squad as they would go from a close game to a blowout loss throughout the schedule.  Despite all the injuries, inconsistent play, and bad breaks, the Royals hold the last playoff spot in the West.  They hold this position by three points over the Prince George Cougars.

The Top Three Players

  Kevin Sundher - Sundher led the Royals with 22 goals and 42 assists for 64 points in 40 games.  For a few nights Sundher would be the most dynamic player on the ice on either team.  He has great speed and a great set of hands to go with it.  He also had a nose for the net and didn't have any issues in going to the dirty areas of the play.

  Logan Nelson - Nelson currently has 17 goals and 23 assists for 40 points in 41 games so far this season.  Nelson is having an outstanding rookie season for the Royals.  Not only has he shown his scoring prowess, but he has also been dedicated in helping out his teammates in his own zone.  He has been a very solid two-way player for the Royals.

  Jamie Crooks and Hayden Rintoul -I cheated, oh well.  Crooks currently sits with 21 goals and 22 assists for 43 points in 42 games.  Crooks has also been a solid two-way player for the Royals.  The thing that sticks out the most about Crooks is how he does so many small things right that end up as scoring chances.  Rintoul currently has 11 goals and 21 assists for 32 points in 42 games.  Rintoul has been the Royals best offensive defenseman.  He is also the team captain and has some of the most experience on the team.  Although his defensive stats aren't as pretty, his leadership is a valuable asset for the young blueline of the Royals.

The Trade

  On January 9th, Royals GM Habscheid dealt star player, Kevin Sundher, to the Brandon Wheat Kings.  The Kings gained a great scoring threat who will excel on an already great team.  In return, the Royals received 17 year old left winger Dakota Conroy, 18 year old defenseman Jordan Fransoo, and a first round 2012 bantam draft pick.  The Royals got two good young players that will definitely help in the next couple seasons.  Fransoo is a 6'3 defensive defenseman who can skate.  He will help out the Royals as a good PK guy and shut down D-man.  Conroy is a left winger who hasn't reached his potential in the WHL yet.  With the Royals he will see more ice time and grow as a player.  This deal helps the Royals for the future and now.


  All in all, it has been a season a lot of people expected from the Royals.  They weren't picked to be a favorite going into the season, but they have a chance to keep that playoff spot and try to make some noise in the post season.  Get ready for the stretch run, because it will be even more exciting than the first half.