Eskis hit double digits again vs. Royals

TEMISCAMING,QC - The Abitibi Eskimos weren't going allow the injury riddled Royals to pull out another overtime thriller on home ice this Sunday.

The Eskis scored 4 times in the first and added 5 more goals in the third period in a convincing 10-2 win in game 4 of the best-of-seven NOJHL Eastern Conference semi-final at the Centre.

Laurie Gieni finished with a hat trick while Marc-Alain Begin and Olivier Morin finished with two goals each. Other goal scorers for the Eskis included Joshua Clancy, Riley Currie, and Joel Roy.

Shifty forward Kelvin Blackned - who had the OT winner last Sunday in game 2 - scored the both goals for the Royals.

The injury riddled Royals were without All-Stars Robin Mendelsohn, who returned from an ankle injury Saturday only to be sent to hospital with an arm injury from an alleged kicking incident involving Eskis Michel Ouellette, and Andre Leclair who was serving a suspension. The Royals were also without top six forward Shane Golden who is suffering from a lower body injury and his out for the season.

Since the 3-2 OT loss last Sunday, the Eskis have outscored the Royals 21-3 in the past two games this weekend.

The Eskis can wrap up the series on home ice Tuesday night when the Royals travel to Iroquois Falls to meet the Eskis in the potential elimination game.

The winner of this series will meet the surprising Sudbury Jr. Wolves who eliminated the North Bay Jr. A Trappers in 5 games.

If necessary, the teams will meet for game 6 back in Temiscaming on Wednesday night.