Edmonds joins Temiscaming Royals

Randy Edmonds (left) and Steve McCharles address the media and Royals fans on Thursday. Photo by Chris Dawson.

The Temiscaming Royals announced today that Randy Edmonds has been hired on as the new Director of Hockey Operations and Associate Coach with the Temiscaming Royals.

The team held a press conference Thursday morning at the Brassette-Temrose Restaurant in Temiscaming.

Edmonds coached the last Skyhawks team that captured an NOJHL title back in 2004-2005. He brings with him more than 10 years of professional coaching experience - mostly overseas in Sweden.

Last year Edmonds coached in the Austrian Pro League.

"I think its Steve’s team and not my team, I'm here to give him support,” said Edmonds.

“I enjoy helping to develop players and help coach players that's what I enjoy to do."

McCharles will remain behind the bench as head coach and continue to do his general manager duties. However, he believes the addition of Edmonds will go a long way in helping build a better Jr. A program in Temiscaming.

“Randy maybe second to none to people available in the hockey industry today,” said McCharles about his longtime North Bay friend.

“This demonstrates a commitment to the town and to the hockey program here in Temiscaming. Randy will be involved in all hockey related activities. He will participate in practices and he will be on the bench at times.”

For Edmonds, the announcement brings together the two friends who mulled over the prospects of bringing Jr. A hockey to Temiscaming more than a decade ago.

Royals forward Chris Hebert has worked at Edmonds Eurocamp Hockey School. He says Edmonds has worked with him since he was 5 and the new Royals associate coach has turned him into the player he is today.

“The biggest thing is you have to take him seriously for everything and if you don’t do what he says you’ll be in the dog house for sure,” said Hebert at the press conference.

Edmonds and McCharles have been talking about some other unique hockey opportunities for the town for years and this announcement will help build towards making those ideas a reality while transforming the Temiscaming Royals into a premier Jr. 'A' hockey organization.

Making moves

McCharles also announced that he's moved forward Pier Paul Landry and defenceman Felix Gilbert to the Trenton Golden Hawks of the OJHL for future considerations. Also on the move is goaltender Guillaume Piche who has been dispatched to the Fort William North Stars of the SIJHL for futures.

"This is simply addition by subtraction," McCharles said about moving the trio.

The Royals already have replaced Piche with 17-year-old Francis Bernard. The butterfly goalie was with the Royals in his minor midget season. He joins incumbent Jim Murray who will return to Temiscaming this fall.

Murray and Bernard will also get some help on the blueline with the addition of import 1990 birth year defenceman Steve McGeary from Pennsylvania who played Prep School hockey last season.

"He's a big, tough defenceman from Pennsylvania who brings some size and some offence to the back end for the Royals defence," McCharles said about the 6'3", 190 pound defenceman who attended the Royals prospects camp in April.