Royals take game one

Chris Hebert sneaks one past Espanola Kings goalie Shayne Buckley. Photo by Carole Turner.

The Temiscaming Royals started off the first game of the GMHL playoffs the same way they finished the regular season - scoring goals. The visiting Espanola Kings were no match for the locals Thursday night as the home team shutout the Kings by the score of 8-0 in front of a home crowd of 378.

The Royals got scoring from every line; Tim Revell (2), Marc Desgagne, Chris Hebert, Chris Fraser, Brandon Blanche, Shane Desrochers and Cedric Boutin were the Royals scorers. Six of the Royals goals were scored on the power play and one was shorthanded.

Guillaume Piche earned the shutout stopping all 22 shots he faced. The King's Shayne Buckley must have wondered where the defense was, as he faced 64 shots.

A total of over 120 minutes were handed out, with the Kings taking over 70 minutes.

Game two of this best-of-seven series takes place Friday night 8:30 p.m. at the Centre in Temicaming.

Game #3 Saturday in Wikwemeekon and game #4 in Espanola next Tuesday.