With a new roster and a new league to play in, the County Royals picked up a split of their first two Northern Premier Hockey League games and are off and running for the 2025-26 season.

The Royals opened the campaign in Tamworth Saturday, September 27 with a 7-3 taming of the Sabres.

A week later, the Royals ran into some trouble against the high flying Smith Falls Rideaus, dropping the home opener in Wellington 10-3.

After a trying inaugural season in the Ontario Super Hockey League, the Royals linked up with the NPHL this summer. The Royals play in the NPHL’s Highland Division which also features Deseronto, Lindsay and Durham.

Having already equalled their win total from last season, the club features a number of former Picton Pirates. New skaters include 2013 Schmalz Cup captain Brandon Peever, Kenny Murdoff, Brett Maracle, Nate Boomhower, Nick Kirby, Nolan and Seth Van Vlack, Justin Arnold, Zack Brooks and Nic McGrayne.

Royals skipper Miguel D’Auost said the squad showed dedication, compete level, and resilience through the two first games.

“We battled hard from start to finish and showed a lot of character, even when facing adversity. Our structure 5-on-5 looked strong outside of a few mistakes, and we’ve been generating good scoring chances with both our forwards and defensemen getting involved in the play,” he told the Gazette.

A Winning Note

In sinking the Sabres in the season opener, the Royals got out to a 3-0 lead and never looked back.

Former Southern Professional Hockey Leaguer Carson Gallagher staked the County to a 2-0 lead early while Calvin Wojtaszak pushed the Royals ahead by a field goal early in the second.

Tamworth crawled back into the game with a pair midway through the second stanza but Ajax product Johns Robinson had the eventual game winning tally two and half minutes into the third.

Mr. Wojtaszak bagged his second of the contest in the third while Malcolm Hurd and Cody Clancy also lit the lamp for the County.

Wellington native and Royals netminder Christian Kristalyn made 32 stops in the win.

Sin Bin Blues

The Rideaus were Eastern Ontario Super Hockey League finalists in 2025 and look well on their way to being a top team in the NPHL playoffs in 2026.

The visitors from Smith’s Falls rang up a 6-0 lead on the Royal through the first half of the contest before Mr. Hurd finally solved Rideaus starter in the 12^th minute of the second period.

Royals captain Mr. Wojtaszak made it a 6-2 game with 5:37 left in the middle stanza but Tate Leeson’s second of two goals in the final minute of the frame did the County in on this night.

Quinte West product Sheldon Purchase potted a goal in the late going for the Royals. Mr. Kristalyn, left to his own devices most of the night, made 41 stops in the 10-3 loss.

Penalties were a big problem for the Royals as Smith Falls clicked for a half dozen power play tallies., “We need to tighten up on our discipline and minimize turnovers in key areas of the ice,” Coach D’Auost said. “These are all fixable details. Our group is improving every week. Overall, I’m proud of the effort, hard work, dedication and of the direction we’re heading as a team.”

The Royals tangle with the Durham Hawks this weekend, travelling to Orno on Saturday evening.

The home-and-home set concludes in Wellington Saturday October 18 at 7:30 p.m.