Royals win final regular-season game and prepare for first-round playoff opponent

Tavistock’s leading scorer, Mitch Atkins, is expected to play a major role in the Royals playoff hopes this season. The team begins the postseason on Saturday night with a game in Erin against the Outlaws. Contributed photo

By Lee Griffi

The Tavistock Royals will meet Erin in the first round of the Ontario Elite Hockey League’s (OEHL) South Division playoffs, and it might be coming at just the right time.

The Royals skated to a 5-3 road win Saturday night, handing the Outlaws their third straight loss. Goals by Sean Kienapple and Mitch Atkins gave Tavistock a 2-0 lead after the opening period but Erin tied it up in the second before Lucas Bast scored to give the Royals a 3-2 lead heading into the third. Drew Gerth scored a powerplay marker at the 10-minute mark, a goal that stood up as the eventual game-winner before Atkins scored his second of the game into an empty net to seal the victory.

Tavistock goalie Andrew Masters was outstanding, stopping 52 of the 55 shots he faced. The Kitchener native is well-travelled, playing junior hockey in Paris, St. Marys, Sarnia and Georgetown before playing three years at the University of Guelph. His pro career included stops in Sweden, France, Australia and Germany.

The Royals finish the regular season with a record of 12 wins, seven losses and an overtime loss, good for fifth place and two points behind fourth-place Erin. Tavistock downed the Outlaws 4-2 in the two teams’ only other matchup back in October.

Atkins led the team in scoring this season with 10 goals and 35 points while playing all 20 games, good for 10th in the entire OEHL and second in the South Division. Deven Kropf followed him with 25 points and Drew Gerth with 22.

Playoff schedule: Tavistock (5) vs. Erin (4)

Game 1 – Saturday, Feb. 7 at Erin, 7:30 p.m.

Game 2 – Sunday, Feb. 8 at Tavistock, 1:30 p.m.

Game 3 – Saturday, Feb. 14 at Erin, 7:30 p.m.

Game 4 – Sunday, Feb. 15 at Tavistock, 2:30 p.m.

Game 5 – Saturday, Feb. 21 at Erin, 7:30 p.m.

Game 6 – Sunday, Feb. 22 at Tavistock, 2:30 p.m.

Game 7 - TBD