Royals take lead in series

Royals forward Chris Fraser scores a big goal against the King City Wild. The Royals now lead the GMHL series 2-1. Photo by Carole Turner.

A crowd of almost 500 went home cheering as the home team Royals pulled out another come from behind victory by the score of 6-4 against the King City Wild. The Royals now lead their best-of-seven series 2 games to 1.

For the second game in a row the visitors, scored first, this time it only took 17 seconds for Dan Douglas to open the scoring. After a Royals penalty, the Wild increased the lead on a goal by Steve Wickhum. Again the Royals responded with 2 goals in the last five minutes of the period. Corey Raymond and Alex Brazeau on the power play.
Andrew Beattie opened the scoring in the second to give the Wild a 3-2 lead. Chris Fraser tied it on a nice tip in from the side of the net. Back on the power play King City's Jon Adams made it 4-3. A Wild penalty in the last minute gave the Royals an opportunity to tie the game and they didn't waste any time taking only 13 seconds to make it a 4-4 deadlock after 40 minutes with Raymond scoring his second of the game.

The eventual game winner was scored by Stephane Gunner on a harmless wrist shot from the blueline that goalie Craig Byford mishandled. Again, as in game one, the Wild pulled their netminder for an extra attacker but tonight, the result was different.

Royals Alex Brazeau put the game away with an empty net goal with no time left on the clock.

Guillaume Piche earned his sixth victory stopping 31 shots, Craig Byford took the loss facing 47 shots.

Game #4 will be Friday March 7 in King City with Game #5 back in Temiscaming Saturday March 8th. Game time is 8:00 p.m. at the Centre.

Submitted to BayToday.ca