Playoff Pairings Set For Royal Bank Cup

By Kelly Sharp

          Pembroke Lumber Kings celebrate a playoff berth at the RBC Royal Bank Cup

One thing is for certain, an east-west gold medal final is confirmed for the RBC Royal Bank Cup in Prince George. The Pembroke Lumber Kings advanced to an all-Ontario semi-final against the Aurora Tigers with a 4-2 victory over the Selkirk Steelers at CN Centre. “We didn’t play our best game, it wasn’t pretty,” said relieved Pembroke majority owner, general manager and head coach Sheldon Keefe. The West region champions from Selkirk return home 0-4 in the round robin portion of the Canadian junior A hockey championship. Steelers captain Andrew Fernandez, who will play NCAA hockey for Northern Michigan next season, said the Manitoba Junior Hockey League champs were worn out from the grueling 7-game Anavet Cup final that ended in a 4^th overtime against the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Humboldt Broncos. Despite the winless record Fernandez called the RBC Royal Bank Cup experience fabulous.

“I have nothing but good things to say about Prince George,” said the 20 year-old defenseman.

Pembroke finished the 5-team round robin as the 4^th seed with a 2-2 record. They will take on the 3-1 Aurora Tigers at 2pm Saturday. Aurora claimed the first seed with a 7-4 victory over the Camrose Kodiaks. The Pacific champions sat goalie Allen York who backstopped the Kodiaks to three consecutive victories and four regulars. The 3-1 Kodiacs will skate against the 2-2 Prince George Spruce Kings at 7pm Saturday night.

The National junior A hockey championship - Royal Bank Cup is on the line Sunday evening at 7:30 at CN Centre.

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