The Pembroke Lumber Kings ended their 2025–26 campaign yesterday at the PMC with an 8–0 loss to Ottawa, capping off a season most fans will likely want to forget.
The Lumber Kings finished in last place in the CCHL with a dismal 10 wins and 42 losses, making it one of the worst seasons the club has seen in many years.
The team experienced a period of significant upheaval earlier this season with the firing of head coach Brandon Richardson amid allegations of wrongdoing by team owner Alex Armstrong and his wife.
Late last year, Armstrong asked an Ontario Superior Court judge in Ottawa to overturn a two-and-a-half-year suspension imposed by Hockey Canada’s Independent Third Party. The suspension followed two complaints alleging player bullying and financial mismanagement within the organization. Rumors surrounding Armstrong’s continued affiliation with the team persist as the season comes to a close.
Despite their turmoil on the ice, every player I had the chance to sit down with this season expressed nothing but optimism for the squad and the belief that, collectively, they could turn things around.
The power of positive thinking displayed by these young men may not have translated into goals or wins, but it is a testament to the fact that these players continue to carry the winning spirit that has made the Pembroke Lumber Kings one of the most storied and enduring institutions in amateur sport.
Until next year — Go Kings Go!
(Written By: Richard Evans)