March 29-31

Thursday and Friday were quiet for me but for the Royals they were busy days indeed. After his stalwart performance on Wednesday it was announced that Mark Owuya was recalled to AHL Toronto, the Royals signed collegian Brad Eidsness (from the University of North Dakota) to fill his roster spot. With Owuya absent it was up to Karel St. Laurent to carry the load in goal over the final two regular-season games. Karel has been used sparingly over the last two months but as Coach Powell at McCaskey would say "you have to be ready when your number is called". On Friday the boys lost in Elmira 3-2 in overtime setting the stage for the Saturday night win-or-else finale against Trenton at the Sovereign Center. The Royals fulfilled their part of the bargain with a 6-4 win, newcomer Ethan Cox netted three goals as Denny Urban, Yannick Tifu and Ian O'Connor added solo scores. The win itself did not clinch a playoff spot, that was accomplished shortly after our game ended when Cincinnati defeated Chicago in overtime. The boys had that game on TV in the locker game, I was in there watching it with them. When the winning goal was scored the room erupted with joy as the season-long goal of a playoff spot was finally realized. The final record: 36-28-8, 15-17-4 at home, 21-11-4 on the road. The opponent in the best-of-five first round with be a familiar one as the Elmira Jackals will visit the Sovereign Center for the first two games on Tuesday and Wednesday, the last three are in Elmira over the weekend. It's often been said that there are three seasons in hockey-the preseason, the regular season and the Real Season. As the lower seed the Royals are the underdog but stranger things have happened. Take care, thanks for reading.

March 26-28

Not much going on Monday or Tuesday outside of the morning errand runs. On Wednesday afternoon the ladies and I headed north on 222 as the Royals hosted the Wheeling Nailers. This was not a playoff game but it felt like one, the tension was at fever pitch most of the night. The story of this game was goaltender Mark Owuya who faced fifty-five Nailer shots and stopped them all for the shutout victory as the Royals won 3-0. It was scoreless in the second period before Denny Urban gave the Royals the lead, Owuya made it stand up until the closing moments when Yannick Tifu and Yannick Riendeau added empty-net goals to round out the scoring. A huge win over a good opponent as the boys continue the push for a playoff spot, the last two games of the season (Friday in Elmira, Saturday at home against Trenton) will tell the story. If the club makes the playoffs it's possible that the first two home games could be on April 3 (bad for me because of baseball) and April 4 (I'd be OK for that) but there is still a way to go. Take care, thanks for reading.

March 23-25

Another abnormally warm day on Friday, daytime temps were close to 80. In the evening we were at the Sovereign Center for the opener of the Royals' weekend miniseries with Trenton. The Titans are out of the running for a playoff spot but the Royals are very much alive and in the hunt, with six games left on the schedule every game is huge. On Friday night it took an overtime shootout to decide matters but the Royals picked up the win 3-2. Matt Caruana and newcomer Ian O'Connor scored in regulation play, Mark Owuya was the winning goaltender as the Royals took the shootout three goals to one. It turned cooler and rainy on Saturday, a lunch visit with Jenny was about all that happened. Saw on the internet where the Royals made it two-for-two with a 7-0 win in Trenton on Saturday, on Sunday afternoon they capped a perfect weekend with a 5-3 home-ice win. All season long the Royals have been much better on the road than at home, this weekend pointed that out as both home games were relatively competitive while the road game was never in doubt. In the Sunday win Matt Caruana continued with the hot hand as he scored three goals, Yannick Tifu and Yannick Riendeau also lit the lamp as Mark Owuya picked up his third win of the weekend. With it all the Royals improve to 34-28-7 as the battle for playoff position comes down the home stretch. The boys meet Wheeling at home on Wednesday, on Friday they play in Elmira before hosting Trenton once again in the regular-season finale on Saturday. Take care, thanks for reading.

March 19-22

It has been remarkably warm over the last little while, daytime highs in the 70s have been the rule rather than the exception. There's nothing wrong with it, it's just way too early in the season for it to be this warm. Not much happening on Monday outside of the morning run, on Tuesday Jenny was in town so we had lunch together at the local sub shop. In the evening we had our organizational meeting for the spring street hockey league at the rink. We're targeting April 9 for opening night, I would be absent because of baseball but the league runs well in my absence because Don and Ronnie know what they're doing. On Wednesday Jenny and I took the drive to Hershey for an AHL game. The St. John's IceCaps were the opponent, they are affiliated with the NHL Winnipeg Jets. This is the IceCaps' inaugural season but St. John's, Newfoundland has a history in the AHL, the Toronto Maple Leafs were affiliated there from 1991-2005. Hershey won 3-2, we'll be there for one last game on April 1. Had a dental appointment on Thursday (just the routine six-month checkup), after that Jenny and I had lunch in Quarryville. We'll be in Reading twice on the weekend as the Royals play a three-in-three against Trenton, the games at the Sovereign Center are on Friday and Sunday. Take care, thanks for reading.

March 16-18

Friday afternoon: Jamie Burkholder joined Jenny and me for an AHL game in Hershey. The Adirondack Phantoms (the Flyers' AHL club) were in town, Jamie wanted to see them because he's a Flyers fan (as am I). The Phantoms have historically struggled in Hershey, this night was no different as they lost 6-3. On Saturday morning we were at it early, Jenny and Helen were along for the ride to the ballpark in Reading. This was the annual run-through day in preparation for the start of the season, the club's home opener is April 5. We were there until about 2:00, from there we got some lunch and relaxed until it was time to head downtown. After a Friday win in Wheeling the Royals hosted the Nailers in the back end of the home-and-home set. It was the annual "St. Hat-tricks" game, fans were selected at random with a chance to win big money if a Royals player scored three goals. Mikael Bedard scored twice and Marc Cantin added a single tally but the game stood 3-3 as regulation time expired. In overtime Bedard (ironically a former Nailer) netted the game-winner, Mark Owuya picked up the win in goal. Bedard's hattrick was the first for a Royal at home this season and it made a lucky fan ten thousand dollars richer. The win came with another price as the Royals lost Cantin, Tyler Brenner, Ray Macias and defenseman Colten Hayes to injury. On Sunday the Florida Everblades returned for the rematch from earlier in the week. With five players on the injured list the Royals played one man short as only fifteen healthy skaters were in uniform, the effects were felt as Florida won the game 4-2. Yannick Tifu and Denny Urban were the Royals' goal-scorers, Mark Owuya was once again the goaltender of record. The club's record stands at 31-28-7 with six games remaining, the next of those is at home against Trenton on March 23. Take care, thanks for reading.

March 12-15

The week started quietly on Monday, in the afternoon I went to the athletic office at McCaskey to turn in my hours for the season. On Wednesday Jenny was with me for the Royals game at the Sovereign Center, Helen couldn't come because she was babysitting. The Florida Everblades were in town for a key game, both clubs are in contention for a playoff spot. The Royals led 2-0 in the first ten minutes but from there the momentum came to a screeching halt as the 'Blades scored the next four and won it going away 8-3. Yannick Tifu (two goals) and Matt Caruana scored for the Royals as Mark Owuya took the loss, Karel St. Laurent played the last fifteen minutes in relief. The boys play in Wheeling on Friday before hosting the Nailers on Saturday, the 'Blades will be back for a rematch on Sunday afternoon. Jenny had an appointment in town on Thursday morning, I took her home and we had lunch at the local pizza parlor. The coming weekend will be busy, on Friday Jenny and I will be in Hershey. On Saturday we have our annual run-through day at the ballpark in Reading in addition to the aforementioned Royals games so the next few days will not be dull. Take care, thanks for reading.

March 10-11

We'll get the bad news out of the way first: basketball season at McCaskey is over. The boys lost to Chester on Saturday afternoon by the count of 86-43. Chester is the defending state champion and they haven't lost a game since December of 2010 so perhaps the result is no surprise, I had just hoped it would be more competitive. At any rate JPM has little to be ashamed of. The final record was 22-8, in twenty years at the helm Coach Powell's personal mark is 372-179. The club won a league championship that few outside of Lancaster expected. The boys advanced to the second round of districts for the first time since 2007 and into the state tournament for the first time since '06. Devonne Pinkard led in total points (424) and average (14.1), Diante Cherry also averaged in double figures at 12.0. Diante reached a milestone against Chester when he scored his 1000th career point, he becomes the eighth player in school history to achieve this and the first since Leontae Turner in 2010. We lose five seniors but we have seven juniors eligible to return next year, with a JV club that went unbeaten and an undefeated ninth-grade team as well the future looks good. We'll see how it comes together next December. As the boys were playing in Norristown on Saturday the ladies and I were on the road to Reading, the Trenton Titans were the opponent. On this night the Royals won their second consecutive home game by the slimmest of margins 2-1. This marked the first time all year the club has won two straight on home ice. Mikael Bedard and newcomer Chris Doyle scored for the Royals, Mark Owuya was the winning goaltender. The club is back at home on Wednesday the 14th as the Florida Everblades will visit. There was little going on Sunday, with the semi-annual clock change overnight and the loss of an hour's sleep that was not a bad thing. I spent a portion of the afternoon getting that hour back. Take care, thanks for reading.

March 5-9

As predicted the early part of the week was quiet, on Monday I had my taxes done. I owe the state seven dollars but the county owes me nine, as they used to say on that old TV game show "big bucks, no whammies". In the afternoon I went over to McCaskey for basketball practice, I gave the scorebook to the coaches since I'll be absent from the game on Saturday. On Thursday morning I had a phone message from Coach Powell's wife Gloria asking me to come to practice in the afternoon. Coach Powell had medals for the team commemorating the LL Championship and there was one for me. I have a few medals from years past here and there but high school sports is all about the players, if the kids didn't play the support staff members like me would have nothing to do. On Friday Jenny had her taxes done in Quarryville, we had lunch afterward. In the afternoon we headed north on 222 for Reading as the Royals hosted the Toledo Walleye. The club had a number of roster moves during the week, there were three players in the lineup making their Royals debut. On this night at the Sovereign Center the Royals rallied from way back to win 5-4. Toledo took an early 2-0 lead before Kyle Neuber got the Royals on the board. The Walleye led by three in the third period before Neuber scored again to make it 4-2, two more from Kenny Ryan (the second coming in the last minute of regulation play) knotted the game at 4-4. After a scoreless overtime the Royals took the shootout one goal to none as Marl Owuya picked up the win in net. The boys will look to keep the momentum on Saturday when the Trenton Titans come to town. Take care, thanks for reading.

March 3-4

Had lunch with Jenny on Saturday morning, in the afternoon I was on the road north to Reading. This was a rare solo trip during hockey season, Jenny and Helen couldn't come because they were attending a baby shower in the evening. After a Friday win in Elmira the Royals returned home for the second game of a back-to-back-to-back weekend set. The Jackals turned the tables on this night as they defeated the Royals 4-1, Matt Caruana scored the lone goal for the Home Team as Mark Owuya took the loss in net. Owuya returned to the Royals earlier in the week when Jussi Rynnas was recalled to AHL Toronto. On Sunday Jenny and I were at the game in Hershey, the Springfield Falcons were the opponent. Springfield and Hershey are two of the AHL's most venerable cities with history in the league dating back to the 1930s. Former Royals goaltender Paul Dainton was in net for the Falcons, Hershey won the game in OT 2-1. Found out that McCaskey's game on the 10th will be at 3:00 at Norristown HS. The boys will face a familiar opponent as Chester defeated Lower Merion in their district title game. If the game time on Saturday were earlier it would be doable for me but having to be in Reading by 5:00 that day for a Royals game makes it impossible. The Royals lost in Elmira on Sunday, the club's record stands at 27-26-7. At home the club is 8-15-4, the road mark is 19-11-3. To say it is unusual is an understatement, most hockey teams tend to be much better at home than on the road. The boys are at home on Friday against Toledo, that is the next major event on the calendar. Take care, thanks for reading.

March 1-2

Thursday morning in Quarryville as usual for lunch with Jenny. In the evening we boarded the bus for Garden Spot HS for the game with Elizabethtown. It's been said that March comes in like a lion, on this night in New Holland it came in like a Tornado. We started strong and by contrast it seemed like E-town was flat as hell. JPM seized momentum early on with a quick thirteen-point lead, by halftime we were up by fourteen. The lead was seventeen after three periods, the final score was 78-54. The win keeps the season alive and qualifies the club for the state tournament. Five players hit double figures for JPM: Calvert Gantz had 15, Devonne Pinkard added 13, Diante Cherry scored 11, Luis Fuentes and Sha-ki Staten contributed 10 each. Diante's effort puts his career point total at 994, he'll have the opportunity to reach 1000 when the club plays again on Saturday the 10th. This is the first time since 2006 the program has been in the state tournament, that's also the last time we played thirty games in a season (the current record is 22-7). As the #7 finisher in District III we'll play the champion of District I on March 10, that would be either Lower Merion or Chester. In all likelihood I'll be out of it because the Royals are at home that night although there's a chance of it being a day game, we'll find out over the weekend. Friday was slow but the rest of the weekend will not be, the Royals host Elmira on Saturday and on Sunday Jenny and I will be in Hershey. Take care, thanks for reading.