Cataracts, Royals in Central-West final

It will be the reigning Herder Memorial Trophy champion Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts and the Corner Brook Royals, first-place finishers in the regular season, vying for the inaugural Central-West Senior Hockey League championship.

The Cataracts and Royals both completed sweeps Sunday, taking their respective best-of-seven semifinals in four games.

The league takes a break next weekend, with the best-of-seven league final scheduled to get under way Saturday, Feb. 28. Game 2 goes the next day.

The series opens at Corner Brook’s Pepsi Centre before switching to venerable Joe Byrne Memorial Stadium in central Newfoundland.

The Royals capped their sweep of the Gander Kelly Ford Flyers with a 9-3 win Sunday. Corner Brook won 8-3 Saturday night.

In Clarenville, the Cats dusted off the homestanding Caribous 6-3 Sunday after winning by the same score Saturday.

Royals-Flyers

At the Gander Community Centre Sunday, Matt Thomey scored three goals to pace the Royals. Mathieu Berube had a pair and Derrick Martin scored once and collected two assists. Michael Hynes, Chris Hulit and Corey Blackmore netted singles. Mark Robinson and Matthew Coughlan each collected two assists.

Jordan Escott had a goal and an assist in a losing cause. Brett Morrison and James Keough also scored for the Flyers.

Things heated up in the second period, resulting in six game misconducts.

Caribous-Cataracts

Sunday at the Eastlink Events Centre in Clarenville, Steve Yetman led the visitors with a goal and an assist. Collin Circelli, Mike Sibley, Brandon Bussey, Cam Fergus and Justin Barbour also scored. Luke Gallant and Andrew Brennan each registered two assists.

Stewart McRae, Andrew Sweetland and Cody McNamara had the goals for the Caribous.