Royals Defeat Winterhawks on Pink in the Rink Night

Victoria Royals bounce back from Friday's loss with a 7-3 victory over Portland Winterhawks.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 5:47am

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The Victoria Royals defeated the Portland Winterhawks 7-3 on Saturday night in front of a crowd of 5,106 fans dressed in pink for the team's annual Pink in the Rink fundraiser. The Royals lost 3-2 to the Winterhawks on Friday but their offense came alive on Saturday, led by two-point performances from Miles Cooper and Reggie Newman. The win keeps the Royals in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Hockey League's Western Conference, tied in points with the seventh-place Winterhawks.

Why it matters

The Royals' victory on Pink in the Rink Night keeps them in the playoff hunt in the competitive Western Conference, where they are tied with the Winterhawks for the final postseason berth. The annual fundraising event also highlights the team's community engagement efforts.

The details

After Friday's 3-2 loss to the Winterhawks, the Royals bounced back with a dominant 7-3 win on Saturday. Miles Cooper and Reggie Newman each had a goal and two assists to lead the Royals' offense. The Royals improved their record to 26-25-5-3, keeping them in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, tied in points with the seventh-place Winterhawks.

  • The Royals lost 3-2 to the Winterhawks on Friday night.
  • The Royals defeated the Winterhawks 7-3 on Saturday night.

The players

Miles Cooper

A forward for the Victoria Royals who had a goal and two assists in the team's 7-3 win over the Winterhawks.

Reggie Newman

A forward for the Victoria Royals who also had a goal and two assists in the team's 7-3 victory over the Winterhawks.

Victoria Royals

A junior ice hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League and is currently in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Portland Winterhawks

A junior ice hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League and is tied with the Royals for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

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What’s next

The Royals now head out on a four-game road trip starting ­Friday night in Kamloops against the Blazers, followed by a trip to Kelowna to face the Rockets on Saturday. They then play in Seattle on Tuesday before returning to Kelowna on Wednesday for a re-match with the Rockets.

The takeaway

The Royals' victory on Pink in the Rink Night keeps them in the playoff hunt in the tight Western Conference standings, demonstrating the team's resilience and ability to bounce back from a tough loss. The annual fundraising event also showcases the Royals' strong community ties and engagement.