Royals sign another former North Bay Trapper

Former North Bay Trapper goaltender Andre Laperriere signed with the Temiscaming Royals. Laperriere led the Trappers to the Great North Midget League Final in 2004-2005. Photo by Chris Dawson.

The Temiscaming Royals have announced they have signed three more players including former Blind River Beaver and North Bay Trapper goaltender Andre Laperriere.

The North Bay native had a 3.93 goals against average and a 0.891 save percentage in 31 regular season games last season for the Blind River Beavers of the NOJHL.

Laperriere was a 4th round pick of the Royals in the GMHL Draft back in May.

“If his focus is there he can be as good as any goaltender at the Junior ‘A’ level,” head coach and G.M. Steve McCharles said about the 20-year-old goaltender.

The Royals also signed forward Marc Degagne. Last year Degagne recorded 31 goals and 46 assists totaling 77 points in 79 games last season with the Timmins Midget AA’s.

“He’s a really nice smooth skater, he’s really smart and has ability to move puck and as you see from his stats from last season he can be a playmaker and score goals,” McCharles said about the 17-year-old right winger.

For their third signing the Royals stayed close to home inking Temiscaming native Brandon Blanche.

Blanche, 20, is a product of both the Temiscaming and Hamilton Minor hockey systems. McCharles says he’s excited about the speed and grit the small forward will bring to the rink every day this season.

The new Greater Metro Junior “A” franchise based out of Temiscaming, Quebec will have its final Selection camp at Le Centre in Temiscaming, Quebec during the weekend of August 17-19.