Royals crowned by Eagles

BY RANDY RUSSON
RR Media Service
for Baytoday.ca

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - Ninety-nine shots on goal after the opening whistle, the Soo Eagles skated to a 6-2 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League win over the visiting Temiscaming Royals here Saturday night at venerable Pullar Stadium.

The Eagles broke open a tight 3-2 game with three third-period goals, finally solving Royals' goalie Jim Murray, the rookie from Philadelphia who made 48 saves on the night.

Second place in the West Division was maintained for the Eagles, who now have 45 points in 43 games. The Eagles are three points up on Blind River in the battle for home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs but the Beavers hold four games in hand.

It was a tough loss for the Royals, who lost 5-4 in a shootout to the East Division-leading North Bay Skyhawks at home on Friday night before boarding the bus and making the six-hour trek this way.

Temiscaming got on the board first when team scoring leader Cedric Boutin tallied his 15th goal of the season but the Royals trailed 2-1 after an opening frame in which they rang two would-be goals off the goal post.

The Royals got to within 3-2 in the second when newcomer Rylan Gull-Chum scored his fourth goal and sixth point in just three games since being added to the Temiscaming roster.

Among other notables, big Adam Phillips had a four-point game for the Eagles, giving him a 10-point week in three games.

With the loss, Temiscaming's record drops to 13-23-4. With 30 points, the Royals trail the Sudbury Jr. Wolves by nine points for third place in the East Division but hold two games in hand.

The Royals are home to Sudbury on Fri. Feb. 6 in an 8 p.m. start at Le Centre.