Royals vie for International Silver Stick this weekend

Richmond Royals players include Shane Barber (18), Kyle Rhodes (47), Sean O’Reilly (1), Jack Zielinksy (28), Isaiah Varner (55), Zach Pokrywka (63), Miles Muncie (41), Robbie Harvey (96), Drew Scott (4), Brandon Mills (88), Trevor Dyke (35), Cobey Hernandez (11), Kyle McClung (66), Dalton Harris (61) and Patrick Dotter (54) (not pictured). The team is coached by Darren Wetherill and Rob Harvey. Photo courtesy of Darren Wetherill Members of the Chesterfield-based Richmond Royals Bantam AA ice hockey team will skate onto the national stage this weekend as they compete in the International Silver Stick Tournament in Port Huron, Mich.

“We want to prove our worth and play well against some of the top teams in the country,” said defenseman Dalton Harris, a student at Chesterfield Christian Academy. “We want to prove we’re one of the top teams in the country.”

“We want to win. That’s all we ever shoot for,” said head coach Darren Wetherill. “If the boys play hard and up to their ability, then I know they will do well there.”

The Royals qualified to play in the prestigious tournament by winning a regional qualifier in Columbia, Md., over Thanksgiving weekend.

“There are teams from all over the U.S. and Canada that compete in regional tournaments in hopes of advancing to the International Silver Stick Tournament,” Wetherill said.

The Royals finished with three wins and one defeat in the regional qualifier. They beat Montgomery (Md.) 3-1 in the championship.

Richmond uses a balanced attack to subdue its foes.

“We have three very even lines,” Wetherill said. “All three are very even in their scoring. We don’t have any stars, just a lot of solid, hard-working kids who love to play the game.”

The team also competes from October through February in the Chesapeake Bay Hockey League. The Royals were in first place entering recent play with a 12-2 record and an overall record including tournament play of 26-8.

“We work together well as a team,” said center Robbie Harvey, a Trinity Episcopal student. “We move the puck and skate hard. We all get along great as well. We have a lot of fun playing hockey together.”

The team works hard for its success. Members practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays and play three to four games a weekend. The Royals played in a tournament in Pittsburgh this past weekend.

Games consist of five-on-five skaters along with goalkeepers. League rules do not permit fighting, Wetherill said.

The 40-year-old Wetherill brings a hefty playing and coaching resume to his current post. He was born in Regina, Saskatchewan. In 1988, his team won the Air Canada Cup Nation Midget AAA championship. In 1992 and 1994, his Lake Superior State University team won the NCAA championship. He played professionally as a defenseman in minor-league hockey for 10 years, including a stint with the Richmond Renegades from 1994-96. He was the round 9, No. 189 overall draft pick by the National Hockey League’s Boston Bruins in 1990.

He has coached the Bantam AA team the past three years.

“I coach because I want to give something back to the game. I was good enough to play professionally and not have to work a 9-to-5 job, and I want to pay something back by teaching and coaching these kids.”