Friday evening: back at the Arena for the start of a season-ending two-game series with the Newfoundland Growlers. The visitors from "The Rock" had previously clinched the top spot in the division and had little to play for, the Royals entered needing three standings points to clinch second place. In the opener on Friday two of those valuable points were earned via a 3-1 victory. Evan Barratt and Jacob Gaucher gave the Royals a 2-0 first-period lead, midway through the third the Growlers cut the lead in half but Max Newton replied less than a minute later to restore the two-goal lead which proved to be the final margin. On Saturday night in game #72 the Royals wrapped up second place and home-ice advantage in the first round of playoffs with a surprisingly easy 6-2 win. Newfoundland scored the game's first goal two minutes in, replies from Charlie Gerard and newcomer Zayde Wisdom (Flyers prospect who has most recently been on the injured list with the Phantoms) put the Royals up 2-1 after one. In the middle period Devon Paliani, Shane Sellar and Tyler Heidt lit the lamp to make it 5-1, Evan Barratt offset a Growler score in the third with one of his own bringing the final to 6-2. Pat Nagle was in net for both games as the Royals finish at home 22-12-2, the overall record completed at 41-25-6. The club meets the Maine Mariners in the best-of-seven Division Semifinals (the second consecutive year for that particular matchup), the first two games are at the Arena on the 21st and 22nd (just for the record, Newfoundland will meet fourth-place Adirondack in the other Semifinal). It should be noted that unlike Wednesday there were no noticeable ice issues, the weather was somewhat more comfortable than the midweek had been. Sunday was Opening Day for the over-35 street hockey league at Lions Park in Rothsville, the first time we'd been there since that bitterly cold day back in November. We have the same format as usual, two games each Sunday with four teams playing each opponent three times weather-permitting. Thirty-eight players participated including eight new faces, opening day winners were Hillside over Warwick and Township over Ephrata. Take care, thanks for reading.
