Royals Prospects Camp a Success

All alone. Hanmer's Alexander Laino attempts to make a stop on a 2 on 0 during a Saturday morning scrimmage at the Centre in Temiscaming.

The Temiscaming Royals are trying to get an early start.

A total of 39 skaters including 7 goaltenders took to the ice for the Temiscaming Royals 2009 Prospects Camp on the weekend at the Centre in Temiscaming.

That’s a far cry from the Royals first prospects camp as members of the NOJHL and Hockey Canada back in July of 2008 in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec when only 14 players showed up.

The players came from all over Ontario, Quebec and even the United States. Royals head coach and G.M. credits the Royals growing scouting staff for making this prospects camp a huge success.

“There’s been some work and we’ve had the time to put together a pretty good group of scouts here, and like I say without the people involved it doesn’t work,” said McCharles.

“A lot of people from all over investing time contacting players and so on, so for me to see this number of kids and the quality of the kids is just great for us this time of year.”

Trappers forward Jamie Olivier was one of a handful of North Bay Trappers who made the trip north for the skate.

“It’s quite up tempo, everyone is skating and hitting and finishing their checks,” said the graduating Trappers forward who is heading to a pair of OJHL camps later this spring.

Second-year Royals defenceman Rylan Henley made the trip back from Longlac to attend the camp. He’s taking advantage of the extra ice time in preparation for a College Prospects Tournament he and two other Royals players are attending in early May in Toronto.

“Oh, it’s great we’ve got 40 kids out here right now and that’s what we had at last year’s main camp and to see that many guys here this early is just great,” said Henley about the 3-day camp.

McCharles is expecting many of the prospects to return to August Main Camp where they will be jockeying for as many as a dozen spots.

“I expect this level of competition and I think sincerely many of the kids that are out here want to play for the Royals. It takes time to build a program and we are getting there, it will happen,” he said.