Reggie Newman has levered his size to play a physical game for the Victoria Royals for four seasons. It didn’t go unnoticed as the six-foot-two, 202-pound forward earned a free-agent invite to the NHL training camp of Utah HC last month.
After beginning his Western Hockey League career when the cycle was in a low position for the Royals, he has earned the right to enjoy the team’s rise as it heads into his hometown of Kamloops with a 6-1-2 record ahead of the game tonight against the Blazers (4-6-1).
“All that hard work paid off but there’s so much more to go,” said Newman.
“I learned a lot in Utah camp that I’ve brought back to Victoria. It was cool to have [Royals captain and Utah HC draft pick Justin Kipkie] with me there in camp. The intensity, speed and strength up their with the pros showed me there’s a lot more work for me to be done in the gym. They told me to put on a few more pounds of muscle and I should be good to go. You’ve got to be ready or you are just going to be walked around up there.”
Newman’s numbers have mirrored the club’s ascent as his plus-minus totals have gone from minus-29 and minus-30 in his rookie and sophomore seasons, when the Royals missed the playoffs both years, to minus-2 last season when Victoria returned to the playoffs, to plus-6 this season with two goals and four points after seven games.
If there are any players on the current roster who deserve the label Mr. Royal, it would be co-holders Newman and fellow-forward Tanner Scott.
“This is Scottie’s fifth year and my fourth year with the team and we have been through a lot,” said Newman.
“But the start to this season has been awesome and team morale is pretty high, but we’ve got to keep it rolling with our depth on forward and defence. Everyone has been chipping in so far.”
Newman had 19 goals and 40 points last season in 64 games but his value to the Victoria club is measured in more than just statistics. His 200-foot game and physical style of play in front of the net and in the corners puts opposition teams on notice that it’s going to be a heavy night.
Newman has come to the defence of his teammates several times and hasn’t been averse to dropping the gloves with 10 career WHL fights listed, including Saturday night’s tilt at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre against Vojtech Vochvest of the Prince Albert Raiders as both players traded blow after blow. Both players received fighting majors and game misconducts. Trailing 4-1 at that point, the Royals were looking for something to recharge the night. It is no longer fashionable to say it in hockey, but that moment may have turned the inspirational tide for the Royals, who rallied for a 6-4 victory.
Tonight in Kamloops begins a four-game road swing for Victoria that continues in Kelowna on Wednesday against the Rockets (4-6) and in Prince George on Friday and Saturday against the Cougars (6-4-3).
The game Wednesday in Kelowna pits forward Tij Iginla of the Rockets, selected sixth overall in this year’s NHL draft, against his Utah HC training camp-mate Newman.
“He’s a pretty good guy off the ice and we talked quite a bit in Utah but we’re ready to go against each other this season in the WHL for sure,” said Newman.
“There were some other guys I played against in the WHL who were in Utah training camp, too, and now we’re buddies.”
Following the road trip, the Royals return to the Memorial Centre in a four-game home set against the defending WHL-champion but now-rebuilding Moose Jaw Warriors (3-6-2) on Nov. 1, Eastern Conference-power Saskatoon Blades (8-2-1) on Nov. 3 and Kamloops on Nov. 5-6.
