Temiscaming getting Junior Hockey

The Temicaming Royals have become the first Quebec based franchise to join the Ontario based Greater Metro Junior Hockey League.

The team that will play out of the Le Centre in the town of Temiscaming will be owned and operated by North Bay natives Steve McCharles and Dennis Lathem.

“This is a great thing for the whole Northwest region of Quebec,” said McCharles who has been working on this deal for just over a year but overall it had been part of a five year plan to bring hockey to the border town located 64 kilometers Northeast from North Bay.

“This town has been waiting a long time for hockey of this caliber and it’s about time,” added McCharles who has coached and played professionally in Europe. McCharles also was a coach and G.M. in the Greater Metro Jr. “A” league last season and was an assistant coach with the North Bay Skyhawks two seasons ago.

The Royals will be holding their first prospects camp on April 13th – 15th at Le Centre in Temiscaming.

Players between the ages of 15 to 20 are eligible to play in the expanding Junior Hockey league. Any free agent junior hockey players interested are asked to go to the website for registration information.

The Greater Metro Junior “A” League based out of Shelbourn, Ontario came into existence last season with seven teams and has already expanded earlier this spring to Espanola.

For more information go to www.temiscamingroyals.com or contact Steve McCharles at (705) 492-5961.