NOJHL Playoffs - Royals heavy underdogs vs. Eskis

For the second straight season the Temiscaming Royals are forced to play the top team in the NOJHL in the opening round of the playoffs.

Last year in the clubs first year in the NOJHL, the Royals lost in 4 straight to the North Bay Skyhawks in the opening round of the playoffs. This season, they take on the Abitibi Eskimos - a team that held a convincing 11-1 record over the Royals in the 12-game regular season series.

The Royals who have been playing with as few as 13 players in the new year, are coming in with a positive attitude and very little pressure against the mighty Eskis.

"I think for us to beat Abitibi we have to all show up as a team ready to play and we need to stay focused for all 3 periods," said Murray noting his team has fell short in recent third periods like the previous meeting earlier this week when Murray faced a games worth of shots (24) in the final frame alone against the Eskis in a 5-3 loss Wednesday night.

The series will start Saturday night in Iroquois Falls and the following day shift south to Temiscaming for a Sunday afternoon contest at the Centre (2:00 p.m. puck drop).

Scoring Champion Felix Boutin led the Eskimos scoring attack with 10 goals and 16 assists in the season series while linemates Marc-Alain Begin with 7 goals and 18 assists and Joshua Clancy with 10 goals and 7 assists rounded out the big three.

Michael Robert added 8 goals and 8 assists and Eric Carrier 4 goals and 10 assists.

The Royals lone win against the Eskis came shortly after Begin was called up to play with Val'Dor of the QMJHL.

The Royals were led by Andre Leclair with 4 goals and 8 assists and Shane Golden fired 6 goals and added 5 assists.

Cedric Boutin tied for the team lead with 6 goals and added 3 assists while Robin Mendelsohn with 4 goals and 3 assists and Darren Shecapio with a pair of goals and 5 assists completed the top five.

Mendelsohn has missed most of 2010, but the smooth skating playmaker is optimistic he can return for game 3 and 4 of the series.

Eddie Davey was the workhorse in the goal for the Eskimos winning ten and losing one game with a .925 save percentage and 2.233 goals against average.

Photo of Royals goalie Jim Murray. Story with Files from NOJHL historian Dave Harrison