A quick response by the Victoria Royals was the difference as the 琉璃神社 Rockets fell 2-1 on Friday night (Sept. 27) at Prospera Place.

Just 1:13 into the game, the Royals made it 1-0 when Markus Loponen scored his first goal of the season, assisted by Teydon Trembecky and Keaton Verhoeff.

鈥淐an鈥檛 start the game like that. It鈥檚 as simple as that,鈥� said Rockets Head Coach Kris Mallette. 鈥淚 mean, the puck drops and we鈥檙e sitting there watching. 1:13 into the game, loose change in front of our net, we鈥檙e soft and it鈥檚 in the back and now we鈥檙e playing catch up.鈥�

The game stayed that way until the 4:20 mark of the third period when Michael Cicek scored his first of the campaign to tie the game for the Rockets. Jackson Gillespie and Levi Benson assisted on the goal.

But the tie game was short-lived as Royals' Nate Misskey found the back of the net, making it 2-1.

Victoria goaltender Spencer Michnik was also a difference in the game, making 27 saves in the win. Jari Kykkanen made 23 saves in the loss for the Rockets.

The Rockets are now 0-2 to start the season. They are off on Saturday and back in action on Sunday afternoon down in Everett to take on the Silvertips. Puck drop is at 4:05 p.m. at Angel of the Winds Arena.