Royals fail to take season home opener

Published on November 13th, 2008

Published on January 31st, 2010

Misses opportunity to tie up game in last minutes of even game

By Christy Marsters

The Hants Journal/NovaNewsNow.com

The Windsor Royals couldn't comeback to take the game from the St. Margaret's Bay Ducks Friday evening, Nov.7. The Ducks edged out the Royals 4-3 during a 2008-2009 Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League home opener for Windsor at the Exhibition Arena.

But the Royals’ potential shines through.

Before the hundreds of people crowded in to watch the game -- including local dignitaries Warden Richard Dauphinee, Mayor Paul Beazley and MLA Chuck Porter -- the first period began with tight defense.

It wasn’t until second period that Jesse Bent, 12, scored the first goal of the game for the Royals.

It was good to score this first personal goal of the season, Bent said. “I thought we had a good chance of winning at the start and then again when we started coming back. We gained momentum at the end.”

Nearing the end of second period, the Ducks winged three pucks past Royals goalie Matt Pongoski. The score was 3-1 for the Ducks going into third period.

The Ducks scored again in third period before two goals, scored by Ryan Gale and Sam Webb, brought the Royals back with a chance to tie the game.

Windsor Royals coach Cliff Pelham said he knew his team had a chance to tie things up in the last few minutes of the game but, in the end, his team lost it by a goal. “It was an even game,” he said.

The Ducks had a good row game, but the Royals did well too, Pelham said. “This team has character... no team has blown us out yet. Our record isn't indicative of our players. I thought we should’ve won.”

Mayor Beazley said he was there to show support for the team. “They're the fabric of the community as it is the birth place of hockey. And, they're role models here.”

Upcoming Royals league games include: Royals versus Sackville Blazers, Hants Exhibition Arena, 7:45 p.m. Nov. 14; versus Cape Breton Molson Canadians, Glace Bay, Nov. 15; Port Hawkesbury, 7:30 p.m., Nov. 21; Brookfield, Nov. 25, 7:30 p.m.; versus Cumberland County, Hants Exhibition Arena, 7:45 p.m. Nov. 28; and St. Margaret's Bay, Nov. 29.