Friday night: back at the Arena on Penn Street, the Royals were at home for the first time since November 20. The club was 2-1 on the road over the holiday weekend, on this night the Norfolk Admirals were in town for the first game of a back-to-back. Norfolk has struggled badly thus far, they entered with the league's worst record and were 0-11 on the road. In the opener on Friday the Ads scored in the first minute of play, another strike midway through the period gave Norfolk a 2-0 lead. Trey Bradley's goal just fifteen seconds later got the Royals on the board at 2-1, in the second a three-goal salvo put the club ahead for good. Scores from fellow rookies Brendan Hoffmann (from OHL Erie) and Jacob Gaucher (pronounced "go-Shay", from Baie-Comeau in the QMJHL) gave the Royals a 3-2 advantage, Max Newton lit the lamp late in the period extending the lead to two at the intermission. Norfolk cut the lead to 4-3 early in the third but replies from Newton and Bradley (with Trey's into the empty net) put the lid on a 6-3 Royals win. On Saturday it was the annual Teddy Bear Toss game, Jenny and Helen donated a number of stuffed animals to the cause. In the 2021 TBT game the fans had to wait until the third period to unleash the avalanche, on this night it happened fifteen minutes into the opening frame. Kamerin Nault (recently returned from injury) scored the "teddy-bear" goal giving the club a 1-0 lead, in the second Devon Paliani and Charlie Gerard struck forty-eight seconds apart making it 3-0 after two. The Admirals battled back and broke the shutout bid in the third but Dominic Cormier's empty-netter with eighteen seconds left salted away the 4-1 victory. Nolan Maier was goalie of record both nights as the Royals improve to 11-5-1, 6-2-0 at home. Since starting 1-4-1 the club has won ten of eleven, the only blemish coming on the last road trip. The boys stay at home for a three-game set with the Allen American on the 7th, 9th and 11th. Take care, thanks for reading.
