Canadian hockey fans looking for options after NHL shutout

Vancouver Island hockey fanslooking for playoff hockey have found an alternative. With the Vancouver Canucksout of contention for the Stanley Cup, fans are flocking to see the WHL's Victoria Royals.

The regular season champions are hoping to add to the honours by bringing Victoria its first championship hockey team since 1980.

The team closed the regular season with a sell-out crowd at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre Thursday. The goal is to get to that point again with the team locked in a second round match-up with rival KelownaRockets.

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"It'sbeengratifying to see thegroundswellof energy and the size of the crowds we have seen and they are gettingbigger and bigger," saidRoyals General Manager and President Cameron Hope.

"People want to see hockey, they want to see it in the springtime. They want to see playoff hockey because it is the most intense and it's right here."

Victoria has long been a Canucks town. Many fans make the trip every year to the Lower Mainland to take in a game. Without that option this year, Hope said he expects more locals to test out his product.

When it comes to sports, we are all local fans," he said. "I think when people figure out what we have to offer they will come back."

Filling the void

A Canucks-free playoffs isn't just good news for Royalsticket sales. At Victoria's Romeo's Restaurant, just down the street from where the Royals play, Canucks' games frequentlyplayon multiple television sets during the regular season.

With the playoffs out of the picture this year, the restaurant'smanageris desperate for another way to bring in hockey fans and get them to spend money. Tothis point, the Royals have filled that void, especially with a big crowd before and after the 2-1 game one win against Kelowna.

"The Royals playoff run is definitely a positive,"saidRomeo's managerYiannisMavrikos.

"There wasprobably 20 to30 per cent more businessin Game Onecompared to a typical Thursday.

"For us, the Canucks being outwill be bittersweet. Itwon't be as busy in the lounge, and deliveries won't be as busy either. But we hope the Royals can go on a run."

Canadian teams shut-out

It is not just Canucks fans who are also looking for someone to cheer for. For the first time since 1970, there is no Canadian teamin the NHL playoffs.

With his team out,Montreal Canadiens fan Will Chamberswent looking for an alternative. He showed up at the Royals game on Thursday night wearing a Habs jersey, but he's still rootingfor the local team.

"I think we are going to see a lot of people supporting these local teams," saidChambers before the game.

"They can't be at home watching their favourite team, so hopefully they come out and support teams like the Victoria Royals."