Image Credit: Victoria Royals

By Victor Kaisar

Royals 7 Blazers 1

Royals’ Johnny Hicks nets first career WHL win over hometown Blazers

Jan 18, 2025 | 9:38 AM

VICTORIA — It was a WHL debut to remember for Kamloops native Johnny Hicks as he backstopped the Victoria Royals to a 7-1 win over his hometown Blazers Friday (Jan. 17) night.

The 19-year-old Hicks stopped 24 of 25 shots to pick up his first career WHL win. He was also named third-star on the night as the Royals leapfrogged past the Prince George Cougars into top spot in the BC Division.

“I just really enjoyed the experience,” Hicks, who has committed to play NCAA Division 1 Hockey at Tennessee State University, said, post-game. “Its a great group of guys in the room and they made it easy to come into the league and come into my first game. It was nice. I had a lot of fun.”

The Royals lead 2-0 after three minutes at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre after goals from Cosmo Wilson and Brayden Boehm. Boehm’s power play marker was credited as a goal after a lengthy video review.

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The Blazers’ lone goal was scored by Tommy Lafreniere at 9:22 of the opening period, a goal that made it a 2-1 game. Blazers captain Emmitt Finnie picked up a secondary assist on that goal to extend his point streak to 12 games.

Kenta Isogai restored the Royals’ two-goal lead about a minute later, as Victoria took control of the game. Nolan Stewart added to the lead in the second period before Treydon Trembecky, Isogai, and Wilson did so in the third period.

Dylan Ernst turned aside 25 of 32 shots he faced in a losing effort for the Blazers, who dropped to 15-22-3-0. They have 33 points from 40 games, and remain just outside of a playoff berth.

The 24-12-3-4 Royals sit second in the Western Conference with 55 points from 43 games.

The two teams will rematch in Victoria at 6:05 p.m. Saturday night, in their seventh meeting of the season. Both teams have won three game each in this season series.