Royals win final regular season game

New Hamburg’s Lucas Bast is playing his best hockey as a member of the Royals as the team begins its first-round playoff series against the Saugeen Shores Winterhawks. Contributed photo

By Lee Griffi

Tavistock didn’t need to win its last regular season game of the season at home Saturday against the Thundercats but they did and in doing so moved Durham to the bottom round of the Ontario Elite Hockey League playoffs.

The Royals, who finished with a record of 13 wins and 7 losses, will have home-ice advantage in the first round as they take on the Saugeen Shores Winterhawks. New Hamburg native Lucas Bast continued his strong play, scoring three times to lead the offence.

“The last time I had a hat trick was about four years ago, so it’s been a little while. It definitely feels good to get one again, especially in a big game,” said Bast. He added the Royals played well against a team needing a win.

“We knew Durham was going to come out desperate, and they pushed hard, but I thought we handled it well. Five-on-five, we controlled the game and created a lot of chances. Staying out of the box was key. When we play disciplined hockey, we’re tough to beat,” he added.

Head coach Tyson Zehr said Bast’s ability to put points up this season comes as no surprise.

“Lucas has been playing great hockey this year, and his offensive production has been a huge boost. He’s always been a smart, skilled player, but he’s really stepped up and finished his chances. It’s no surprise to us. He shows up to practice every week, he works hard, gets into the right spots and makes the most of his opportunities.”

Tavistock won both matchups with Saugeen Shores this season, outscoring them 11-4. Despite the relatively easy wins, Zehr isn’t taking anything for granted.

“It’s going to be a hard-fought, heavy series. Saugeen is a tough team with a lot of experience, and they play a physical game. We know they’ll be ready, and we’ll need to match their intensity right from the start. They have a few high-end players with a lot of skill and experience, so keeping them in check will be important.”

The Winterhawks are led by Luke Pither, who played twelve seasons of professional hockey, including stints in the American Hockey League and Europe. The 35-year-old had 32 points in 14 regular season games. Port Elgin native Andy Mitchell is second in team scoring with 29 points.

The Royals held its annual Pork BBQ last weekend and team president Kyle Wynette said, as usual, the community support was amazing.

“On behalf of the Tavistock Royals, I want to thank everyone who came out to support us at our annual BBQ. The turnout was incredible, and the support from the community means so much to our team. Events like this wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of our volunteers and the enthusiasm of our fans. We appreciate all of you, and we’re looking forward to bringing that same energy into the playoffs!”

Ontario Elite Hockey League First-Round Playoff Series

Saugeen Shores vs. Tavistock

Game 1 - Friday, Feb. 7 in Port Elgin at 8:30 p.m.

Game 2 - Saturday, Feb. 8 in Tavistock at 7:30 p.m.

Game 3 - Friday, Feb. 14 in Port Elgin at 8:30 p.m.

Game 4 - Saturday, Feb. 15 in Tavistock at 7:30 p.m.

Game 5 - Friday, Feb. 21 in Tavistock at 8:30 p.m. (if necessary)

Game 6 - Saturday, Feb. 22 in Port Elgin at 7:30 p.m. (if necessary)

Game 7 - Sunday, Feb. 23 afternoon or Tues Feb. 25 at 8:30 p.m. (tentative, if necessary)