Wednesday 30 April 2014

Royals Hope & Lowry Win Awards

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GM Cam Hope and Head Coach Dave Lowry of the Victoria Royals, both took home awards in the categories they were finalists for, at the WHL Awards Luncheon Wednesday in Calgary.

Hope won the WHL Executive of the year, while Lowry received Coach of the Year.

Both were in their 2nd year with the club that had a franchise best season, and fell in the 2nd round to the Portland Winterhawks.

The WHL Bantam Draft begins Thursday morning.
Listen to Hope and Lowry reaction here: https://soundcloud.com/voice_vicroyals


WHL Coach of the Year - Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy
WINNER: Dave Lowry – Victoria Royals

In his second season as head coach of the Victoria Royals, Dave Lowry helped lead the Club to its best regular-season performance in franchise history, posting an impressive 48-20-1-3 record for 100 points and a third-place finish in the Western Conference.  Under Lowry’s guidance, the Royals skated to the fourth-best road record in the WHL and the WHL’s second-best defensive record, having allowed just 181 goals.  Under Lowry, the Royals boasted one of the most balanced attacks in the League with six players who reached the 20-goal mark.  Lowry’s Royals were also a model of consistency during the season, losing back-to-back games on only four occasions.

RUNNER UP: Shaun Clouston – Medicine Hat Tigers

WHL Executive of the Year - Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy
WINNER: Cam Hope – Victoria Royals

In his second season as general manager for the Victoria Royals, Cam Hope’s Club smashed several franchise records, including wins and points in a season with their 48-20-1-3 record and 100 points.  Under Hope’s management, the Royals improved their win total by 13 and their point total by 23 from the 2012-13 season while also reducing their goals-against by a whopping 71 goals.  In addition to helping develop a stable of young players such as Tyler Soy, Chaz Reddekopp and Jack Walker, Hope also bolstered his Club’s roster by acquiring impact players such as Axel Blomqvist and Travis Brown.

RUNNER UP: Mike Moore – Calgary Hitmen

- Marlon Martens

ROYALS’ HOPE AND LOWRY SWEEP WHL AWARDS
General Manager Cameron Hope wins WHL Executive of the Year award; Dave Lowry named WHL Coach of the Year.

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Victoria, BC – The Victoria Royals are proud to announce that General Manager Cameron Hope has been named the 2014 WHL Executive of the Year, while Head Coach Dave Lowry has been named the WHL Coach of the Year at the 2014 WHL Awards this afternoon.

After guiding the Royals to franchise records of 35 wins and 77 points in 2012-13, Hope and Lowry again led Victoria to a record-smashing year after the club went 48-20-1-3, earned 100 points and picked up the franchise’s first playoff series win in 2013-14.

Hope receives the Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy as the Executive of the Year. In Hope’s second season as the general manager of the Royals, the Edmonton, AB native acquired players such as Travis Brown and Axel Blomqvist via trade to help bolster the team en route to a successful 2013-14 season. Hope also hired Lowry prior to the 2012-13 season.

Hope is the second general manager in team history and fourth in the franchise’s history. From 2007 to 2011, Hope served as the assistant general manager of the NHL’s New York Rangers. Hope is a graduate of the University of Alberta, with degrees in Arts (Sociology) and Law.

Lowry also recently completed his second season with the Royals and is the recipient of the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy. This season, Lowry guided Victoria to numerous franchise records including wins, points, fewest goals allowed (181) and road wins (26). Behind the bench of the Royals, Lowry helped Victoria finish the 2013-14 WHL Regular Season as the 10th ranked club in the BMO CHL Top 10 rankings.

Since joining Victoria, Lowry has posted an 82-50-3-7 regular season record as the Royals’ bench boss. Prior to joining Victoria, Lowry spent three seasons as an assistant coach of the NHL’s Calgary Flames and was also the head coach of the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen during the 2008-09 season when the Hitmen posted a 59-9-3-1 record en route to an Eastern Conference title. Prior to his coaching career, Lowry spent 19 seasons as a player in the NHL.

Hope was up for the 2014 Executive of the Year award alongside Eastern Conference nominee Mike Moore (Calgary), while Lowry competed against Shaun Clouston (Medicine Hat) for Coach of the Year honours.

Royals 2014-15 season tickets are on sale now! Guarantee the BEST seats at the BEST prices with the BEST benefits for all 36 home games by visiting www.victoriaroyals.com or calling 250-220-7889.

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For further information contact:

Corey St. Laurent
Manager of Communications and Hockey Operations Coordinator
Victoria Royals Hockey Club
250-220-2613