Keegan Kanzig will hope the third time is the charm when his Victoria Royals visit the Edmonton Oil Kings again in February.
The Athabasca native’s Western Hockey League team has lost the two games they have played at Edmonton’s Rexall Place (most recently 5-2 on Saturday); games close enough to his hometown that friends and family can make the trek to cheer him on.
Last weekend, the Royals got out in front of the Oil Kings early and carried a lead into the first intermission. But they struggled in the second period as their hosts scored five times.
“I thought we could have put in a bit better of an effort,” he said.
“We weren’t playing like we should have. The second is where we really broke down and it made it hard for us to claw back.”
Kanzig felt his own effort on the ice in Edmonton was solid, but the loss for his team was his main focus.
“I’m always working hard out there, but I thought I could have made some better decisions.”
The Royals now enter the Christmas break with a record of 17-14-0-2. They’ll return to action on Dec. 28 against the Prince George Cougars.
Kanzig and his teammates were hoping to gather a little more momentum before the Christmas break, but the rest will still do them some good.
“When we’re playing how we can for a full 60, there aren’t a lot of teams that can beat us. We’ve just got to work on being consistent for the rest of the season.”
Playing close to home for the second time in his WHL career, Kanzig knew what to expect when he stepped on the ice. But knowing his friends and family were in attendance didn’t take his focus away from the game.
“Earlier in the day there’s some butterflies because you know you’ve got all these people coming out to support you, but closer to game time you get a little more focused on what you’re doing.”
The Royals return to Edmonton on Feb. 17.
