Skyhawks PP kills Royals

Skyhawks goalie Riley Ross makes a save in the first period. Photo by Chris Dawson.

The North Bay Skyhawks used a three minute five on three power play in the second period to top the Temiscaming Royals 4-1 Sunday night. All four goals for the Skyhawks came on the long two man advantage. North Bay won both games of the weekend home and home against their cross border rivals and are now 7-1 versus the Royals this season.

Royals head coach Steve McCharles was seething after the game, pointing the finger directly at the officials for - what he felt - were some questionable calls.

“How do we end up with two five minute majors and they only end up with two (minutes)?” asked the fiery coach. “There were two spears and there was a fight, so it should have been 5 on 5 or 3 on 3, however they want to set it up,” added McCharles in his post game interview.

McCharles also indicated that he felt this wasn’t the first time the ice has been tilted against his team when it comes to officiating.

“When you have the GM/Assistant coach/Chairman of the Board of the North Bay Skyhawks physically assault two of my security guards and get away with it 'scott free' I don’t think we have to ask the question what happened in the corner,” pointing to the altercation in early November when Skyhawks GM Guy Blanchard got into an altercation with security at Le Centre in Temiscaming.

“I came into the NOJHL from another league and to watch this night after night, it’s just unacceptable,” said McCharles. “There is influence in the league and sure isn’t coming from the Temiscaming Royals,” added the coach.

Temiscaming opened the scoring in the contest when Darren Shecapio bulged the twine behind ‘Hawks netminder Riley Ross midway through the first period.

The altercation that lead to North Bay’s two man advantage happened with just 5 seconds remaining in the opening stanza. Royals forward Pierre-Paul Landry was assessed two five minute penalties, one for fighting and the other for spearing while his teammate Niko Tonello was given an instigator as well as five for fighting and a gross misconduct for being the third man into a fight.

North Bay’s Nathaniel Vail was given a fighting major for his part in the scuffle and three other minor penalties were divided between the Skyhawks Joel Senecal and Brad Hummel.

After a long discussion with his crew referee Graham Love decided to play the last 5 seconds of the period after the teams had the intermission to cool off.

With the Royals two men short the potent Skyhawks power play went to work scoring four goals in exactly two minutes. Memorial Gardens announcer Vince Calicurri could barely keep up to the pace at which the ‘Hawks were filling the net. Justin Villeneuve got the first on a top shelf slap shot from in close, Solomon McCann then bookended a Tyler Hummel goal with his 24th and 25th markers of the season.

“When all five guys are on the same page on the power play and five on five we’re a tough team to beat,” remarked Skyhawks head coach Ian Swalucynski after the game.

Although there was no scoring in the third period the Skyhawks carried most of the action outshooting the Royals 18-5 in the frame. Royals goaltender Jessy Lecours looked sharp in the period, including a breakaway save on call up Tyler Miller. The local product who plays midget triple "A" for the New Liskeard Cubs was added to the lineup with teammate Nick Robidas. The two were both in the lineup when the Cubs lost to the North Bay Trappers earlier in the day.

“It was a great feeling; the guys are great, I just love playing with them,” said Miller after his first NOHJL action. “I was dead after that shift ... I wish I could have that one back,” he added of his breakaway attempt.

Although neither call up recorded a point, Miller was awarded the games third star for his efforts. Villeneuve and forward turned defenseman Scott Britton took stars one and two respectively.

Adding assists for North Bay were Dustin Fummerton, Ryan Loach and Kyle Radigan with two each. Captain Kody Carnevale and Marcel Konopelky each had a single assist. Helpers for the Royals came from Stephan Gunner and Caleb Buehrer.

Lecours faced 39 shots in the loss while Ross stopped 25 of 26 in taking the victory.

The two teams will meet again in ten days at Le Centre in Temiscaming in an afternoon New Years Eve match-up. The Skyhawks will also play an exhibition game against members of the 2002-03 ‘Hawks next Saturday at the Gardens.