Written By: Rino Mattucci     Photo by: Ray MacAloney - OJHL Images

MARKHAM, ON: After starting off 2019 with a 5-1-0-0 record, the Markham Royals (21-14-2-4) will look to continue their strong play with a pair of home games on tap this weekend. First on Friday night Markham will host the Newmarket Hurricanes before entertaining the Pickering Panthers on Sunday afternoon.

The Royals are coming off a win this past Thursday against the Hurricanes, while the Hurricanes are coming off a loss this past Sunday. The Hurricanes have been struggling of late with a 1-4-0-0 record in 5 games in 2019, and will have played on Thursday night at home against Brantford, after the time of writing. Newmarket is in the beginnings of a busy week with 5 games in 7 days (Jan 24 - Jan 31), and with 2 games left against the Royals it will give the Hurricanes a chance to catch Markham who sits 5 points ahead of them in the standings. This is the 6th of 7 meetings between the Royals and Hurricanes this season, with the Royals holding a season series record of 4-0-0-1.

With the Panthers, it’s been an up and down season for the club, and will face the Royals 3 times in a matter of 6 days starting on Sunday. The Royals have outscored the Panthers by a combined 30-6 margin over 4 games, with the Panthers winning one of those games by a 3-2 score.

Game time on Friday night against Newmarket is scheduled for a 7:30pm start, while Sunday the game is expected to start at 1:30pm.

Please note: the game currently showing on Pointstreak scheduled for Sunday February 3rd in Pickering is not correct. There is no game for us on Feb 3rd.

Player Watch
Royals - #7 Braedyn Aubin - The Royals Captain has had a feast against the Panthers this season, scoring 4 goals and 11 of his 57 points when playing against Pickering.

Past Results
VS Newmarket
09/21/18 Newmarket 1 at Markham 2
10/28/18 Markham 3 at Newmarket 3 OT
11/02/18 Newmarket 1 at Markham 3
12/06/18 Markham 6 at Newmarket 3
01/17/19 Markham 3 at Newmarket 0

VS Pickering
10/05/18 Pickering 1 at Markham 9
10/26/18 Markham 8 at Pickering 1
11/16/18 Markham 2 at Pickering 3
12/16/18 Markham 11 at Pickering 1

By the Numbers

Record
Markham - 21-14-2-4
Newmarket - 17-17-2-5
Pickering - 16-25-0-1

Goals For / Goals Against
Markham - 162 / 130
Newmarket - 109 / 100
Pickering - 95 / 151

Special Teams (PP / PK)
Markham - 37 for 182 (20.3%) / 26 for 143 (81.8%)
Newmarket - 26 for 152 (17.1%) / 24 for 170 (85.9%)
Pickering - 23 for 172 (13.4%) / 40 for 191 (79.1%)