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It’s not often pre-season hockey captures the imaginations of Victoria hockey fans, but this year’s Royals are doing things a little differently. Friday and Saturday night, the Royals will host the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights in what’s being billed as the Clash of the Kingdoms. Watch the story below: This royal rumble of sorts carries more weight than your typical exhibition series. “Usually in exhibition you get some veterans who are happy to get a night off,” says Royals head coach James Patrick. “I’ll tell you this. All my players want to play. I’m getting veteran players coming up to me asking, ‘Can I play both games?’ “ The Knights have become a benchmark in the Canadian Hockey League, producing NHL stars including Patrick Kane, John Tavares, Corey Perry, Matthew Tkachuk, Mitch Marner and Evan Bouchard. “They’re the organization in Canada. They’re the benchmark,” Patrick said. “For us to play them this early, this is so good for us.” There will also be plenty of NHL draft pedigree on the ice. Between the two teams, 10 players have been selected in the NHL Draft, including three first-round picks. The Knights are travelling more than 4,000 kilometres from London to Victoria for the two-game series, but some of their fans are making the trip as well. Royals senior manager of operations and development Brett Vestby says the team has noticed several tickets being purchased by fans with London-area postal codes. “We’re getting lots of tickets popping up with that London postal code,” Vestby said. The Royals will feature several new players, including reigning WHL goal scoring champ Cameron Schmidt, Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Filip Novak, and goaltender Vladimir Proskurin, a 4th round pick of the St. Louis Blues. The Knights boast three first-round NHL picks in their lineup, including a pair of defencemen. Henry Brzustewicz is one of the premier two-way players in the CHL, while hulking rearguard Maksim Sokolovskii is one of the country’s most physically dominant players. Rounding out the trio is Cayman Islands-born forward Jaxon Cover, drafted last spring by the Ottawa Senators, 32nd overall. Perhaps the most interesting prospect for local fans is Knights goaltender Alexei Medvedev, a second-round pick of the Vancouver Canucks. Although the most familiar face on the London side will be behind the bench. Knights head coach Dale Hunter has more than 1,000 coaching wins and has built a reputation as one of the more intense coaches in junior hockey. Patrick knows that intensity well. Hunter was coaching the Washington Capitals when Patrick was playing for the New York Rangers, giving the two plenty of opportunities to cross paths. “I either ran into, or got run into by him,” Patrick joked. “He played mean, he played hard.” Now, the two former NHL players will meet again, this time as opposing coaches. The series also gives the Royals an early test after a turbulent off-season last year. At this point last season, Victoria was dealing with significant roster changes following league changes that allowed players to move to NCAA programs. NHL first-round picks Cole Reschny and Keaton Verhoeff both left the Royals, forcing the team to make rapid adjustments. “We were in scramble mode,” Patrick said. Happily out of scramble mode, Patrick is optimistic. “Right now it’s very early. It’s exciting to see the talent on the ice, but talent has to come together and play the game the right way.” Faceoff Friday is 7:00 p,m., with puck drop scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Saturday.