Royals split weekend games, drop to fourth in OEHL standings

Tavistock captain Tristan Hohl believes the Royals have what it takes to make another run at an Ontario title. Tavistock Royals photo

By Lee Griffi

A pair of road games earned Tavistock two points but dropped them down a spot in the Ontario Elite Hockey League (OEHL) standings.

The weekend kicked off with a 6-3 win in Milverton over the Four Wheel Drives. Erik Robichaud led the offence with three assists with Trevor Sauder, Sean Kienapple, Deven Kropf and Andrew Van Boekel adding two points each.

Zach Shomphe stopped 39 of the 42 shots he faced to earn the win.

The Royals weren’t so fortunate on Sunday afternoon as they dropped a 4-2 decision to Minto in Palmerston.

The 81s jumped out to a 2-0 lead halfway through the first period before Trevor Sauder scored on a setup from Deven Kropf and Tyler Reid. Tristan Hohl’s third of the season five minutes into the third period tied it up but Minto would score two third-period markers to seal the win.

Hohl, who is in his eighth season with the Royals and wears the captain’s C, said his time with the team has been a great journey with some pretty special memories.

“The team, the community, the competition and my love for the game keep me coming back. There’s a real sense of pride in representing Tavistock, and I love being part of this group.”

The Royals have yet to play their best hockey this season, but the captain believes they can make another run at the OEHL title.

“We’re close. We’ve had some tough losses to the top teams, but we’re right there. We’ve got the talent and drive to make another push, we just need to stay consistent and execute when it counts.”

Hohl has spent a lot of time on and off the ice with teammates and friends Trevor Sauder and Deven Kropf.

“Yeah, playing with Trev and Dev is always great. We’ve been teammates since we were kids, so there’s that strong competitive bond. We still play with that drive to win, but we definitely enjoy the game and the chance to play together.”

Tavistock hosts Lucknow on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The Lancers haven’t won a game in 18 starts and have a goal differential of minus-103.