December 5-7

Quiet Friday evening at home in anticipation of a busy Saturday and Sunday. The South Carolina Stingrays came to town for a back-to-back set, these two games comprised their only regular-season visit. The opener on Saturday night was a definite case of deja vu as the Stingrays carried a 3-0 lead into the second period (the third consecutive home game in which the Royals trailed by three early on). Adam Hughesman's goal got the Royals back into it but another SC score reestablished the three-goal deficit. Midway through the third period Willie Coetzee made it 4-2 but that would be the final score, Connor Knapp was the Royals' goalie of record. On Sunday afternoon it was our annual Teddy Bear Toss game, always a popular attraction. The fans had to wait a long time to throw their stuffed animals, the game remained scoreless through two periods. Early in the third David Marshall scored the "teddy bear" goal to give the Royals the lead, moments later Adam Hughesman lit the lamp to extend the lead to two. That was all Martin Ouellette would need, the 2-0 victory was his first shutout as a professional and the club's first of the season. The Royals' record stands at 10-8-2, the ten-game homestand wraps up with the Wheeling Nailers for a double-dip on the 12th and 13th. Take care, thanks for reading.