Corner Brook Royals and Deer Lake Red Wings Swept

The Corner Brook Royals and the Deer Lake Red Wings were both swept in their playoff series in the 2009-2010 edition of the West Coast Senior Hockey League.

The Corner Brook Royals exit in 4-straight comes as no surprise after they finished last in the regular season and failed to live up to expectations throughout the entire season.  After some early season successes, many critics and fans alike thought that this would be the year the Corner Brook Royals returned to the top of their game.  It was however, never meant to be.

Stars such as Morgan Warren and  Terry Ryan did very little throughout the season, leaving the Royals struggling offensively.  While other players tried to pick up the slack, the Royals were unable to get any momentum going throughout the season and into the playoffs.

Topping it off, the Royals lost their coach Juan Strickland for the last 2 games of the season after he was suspended by HNL for comments made in The Western Star, questioning the treatment of Royals toughman Roger Maxwell.

The exit of the Deer Lake Red Wings came as a surprise to many fans but not to others.  The Deer Lake Red Wings struggled the entire year with their lineup often playing short-benched throughout the regular season.  Their defense was also recognized as one of the weakest in the league.

Questions surrounding these two organizations are surfacing in the wake of their early exit from the playoffs.  Will this be the last year for the Royals?  Will Deer Lake fold if the Royals are not in the league.

Time will tell.