Royals’ Senick joins local Special Olympics Board

December 30, 2017, 6:21 am

≫ Next: Game 31 Preview: Adirondack at Reading

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Reading, PA – Reading Royals Director of Ticket Sales and Service John Senick has become a board member with the Special Olympics of Berks County, expanding his many local volunteering and charitable initiatives around the area. Senick assists the Special Olympics with fundraising. He is in his first season with the Royals front office.

“I have a special needs son, Ricky, who has competed in the Special Olympics,” Senick explained. “Board member Mike Sheldon told me they needed help and I remembered his kindness to my son at a camp years ago.” Sheldon is a second-year season ticket holder with the Royals.

The long-time Reading-area resident Senick has been the lead minister of hospitality at St. Catharine’s Church for more than 20 years. He is also a cofounder, board member and lead volunteer with Joseph’s People, a non-profit assisting unemployed and underemployed people. Since 1995, Joseph’s People has helped more than 5,000 people recover from job loss.

“We are glad to see so many motivated Berks County residents making a difference,” Senick said. “My family and I feel a special connection to this community.”

The Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities.

“Any money coming in stays local. It’s the best of both worlds,” Senick said. The Special Olympics relies solely on donations and fundraisers.

If interested in getting someone involved with a specific sport, email sopbcmanager@gmail.com. Contact Kristel Flowers at kristel.flowers@gmail.com for volunteer opportunities. The Berks County Special Olympics website is berkscountyso.wordpress.com. Those with fundraising ideas around Berks County can reach out to Mike Sheldon at Sheldon990@gmail.com.

Born in south Philadelphia, Senick has an extensive history of successful sales experience, principally in the automobile, software and banking service industries. He played youth hockey growing up in the southeastern Pennsylvania area and has also coached the sport at several local rinks.

Senick has also been active with Keystone Soldiers, a non-profit dedicated to making Christmas a bit more joyous for troops overseas.

The Royals drew 4,093 fans to its game Thursday and Reading defeated Worcester, 6-2. Senick hopes to see the tremendous support continue.

“It was heartwarming and great to see that many people experience the amazing atmosphere at Santander Arena. It juiced the team.”

Hero Night on Sat., Dec. 30
The Royals will wear Captain America jerseys and meet Captain America on the concourse on Sat., Dec. 30 at 7:00 p.m. Reading battles the Adirondack Thunder, who will wear Ultron Jerseys.

Meet Jerry “The King” Lawler on Wrestling Night Jan. 5
Meet wrestling legend Jerry “The King” Lawler at Santander Arena and watch the Royals battle the Brampton Beast on Fri., Jan. 5 at 7:00 p.m.

Dollar Dogs and Postgame skate Jan. 7
Sun., Jan 7 vs. WOR at 4 p.m.: Dollar dog day presented by Safe Berks, Berks Packing and Coca-Cola, and a postgame skate presented by Body Zone.

Royals three-game pack on sale!
Get an autographed Royals puck and come out to three of our biggest games for just $30.
– Sat., Jan. 20 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Slapshot bobblehead giveaway, THON Night, Star Wars jerseys)
– Fri., Feb. 17 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Pink in the Rink, knit scarf giveaway)
– Sat., Mar. 17 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Yannick Tifu number retired, Meet WWE Million Dollar Man)
– Sat., Mar. 24 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Worcester (Kelly Cup Tribute puck giveaway, Autism Awareness jerseys)
– Sat., Apr. 7 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Norfolk (FANdemonium, fan appreciation, fan’s choice giveaway)
– Call 610-898-PUCK and tickets are available here.

About the Royals
The Royals have been owned by serial entrepreneur Jack Gulati since 2014 and are in their 17^th ECHL season. Proudly affiliated with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers and AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Reading plays in the Santander Arena, located in downtown Reading, PA at 700 Penn Street. The Royals won the Kelly Cup in 2013, have made the playoffs in eight straight seasons and are four-time division champions.

Reading Royals Mobile App

Head to the App Store and Google Play to download the new Reading Royals app on your smartphone! Stay up-to-date with team news, receive notifications and purchase tickets for your next experience at Santander Arena.

Broadcast Coverage

All Royals game can be heard on Rumba 1340 AM and the iHeartRadio app by searching “Rumba 1340”. The pregame show starts 15 minutes before puck drop. Watch Royals games on ECHL.tv. Reading away games are shown locally on BCTV, channel 15 Comcast, channel 19 Service Electric.

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Game 31 Preview: Adirondack at Reading

December 30, 2017, 7:00 am

≫ Next: Huntebrinker’s hat trick propels Royals to 5-3 win

≪ Previous: Royals’ Senick joins local Special Olympics Board

Marvel Super Hero Night, special jerseys, puck giveaway

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals (15-13-2-0, 32 pts., 4^th North) host Marvel Super Hero Night and wear Captain America jerseys in a showdown with the Adirondack Thunder (16-13-1-1, 34 pts., T-2^nd North) Saturday at 7:00 p.m. The Royals will give away a Marvel Comic Super Hero Commemorative Puck to the first 2,500 fans (Tower Health). The Thunder will wear Ultron Jerseys.

The Royals ran away from the Railers, 6-2, on Thursday. Six Royals scored. Adirondack won their last game against first-place Manchester, 3-1, on Wednesday. The Royals drew 4,093 fans, the third-largest crowd of the season at Santander Arena.

Reading is finishing up a four-game home stand and is 1-2-0-0 through the first three.

The Royals and Thunder rematch at 5:00 p.m. on New Year’s Eve in Glens Falls, NY. Coverage begins at 4:45 p.m. on Rumba 1340 and BCTV with Royals Pregame.

Post-Christmas turn up
The Royals are 1-0-0-0 since returning from this season’s holiday break. Reading has used the time off to increase their level of play in four of the last five years. Last season, the squad went 13-3-0-1 after returning from Christmas to boost to 28-14-1-2 and second in the North Division. The run included a five-game win streak. Nick Luukko was a team-best plus-17 from Dec. 26 – Feb. 4.

During 2014-15, the Royals accrued 12 consecutive wins in an 18-4-0-0 stretch after the holidays. The 2013-14 team demolished opponents during a 10-3-0-0 post-Christmas jaunt which included a seven-game winning streak. The season before, Reading came out on first with five wins in six games after the holidays.

Frank is a “plus”
Defenseman Frank Hora added his sixth assist of the season against Worcester in a 6-2 win Thursday. A 21-year-old from Cheektowaga, NY, Hora is a team-best plus-10 in 23 games.

Hora played in three games with Lehigh Valley earlier this season and was a plus-six, meaning he has a plus-16 rating in 26 games this season. He captained the Kitchener Rangers last season and also spent three games in the AHL with Cleveland. Hora was a plus-12 in 241 OHL games.

Hora and defensive partner James de Haas were plus-5’s on Nov. 11 vs. Jacksonville, tied for a Royals best this season.

Hulk to Captain America transformation
The Royals have worn The Incredible Hulk jerseys twice this season as part of the ECHL’s Marvel Super Hero Night promotion. Reading is 1-1-0-0 in the green uniforms. The Royals showed their might in a 3-2 win at Adirondack (Thor jerseys) on Nov. 25. Reading’s “balanced powers” were evident with three goal scorers and 37 saves from Mark Dekanich.

On Nov. 19, Reading lost, 5-4, to Brampton (Iron Man) despite a “heroic” effort from Alex Krushelnyski (2g).

The ECHL announced its partnership with Marvel in October. All 27 teams host a game this season wearing Super Hero jerseys.

Royals sign Cleland
The Reading Royals announced Friday defenseman Matias Cleland has been reassigned to the Royals from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. This is Cleland’s rookie season. He spent the beginning half of the campaign with the Orlando Solar Bears and registered three points (1g, 2a) in 25 games.

Catching up on the roster moves
The Royals have made six roster moves since returning from the holiday break. Here’s what you need to know:

Additions
G John Muse (returned on loan from Lehigh Valley)
D Tim Boyle (signed contract)
D Matias Cleland (reassigned to Royals by Toronto Marlies)

Subtractions
D Adam Comrie (signed PTO with Utica Comets)
D Loic Leduc (suspended from team)
G Tyler Parks (released)

Head to head
The Royals are 6-1-0-0 against the Thunder this season but dropped the last meeting, 6-2. Matt Willows tops the Royals with 10 points (3g) against Adirondack. Ryan Penny has five goals in the series. Captain Derek Whitmore has four goals this season, all against the Thunder.

Reading’s Mark Dekanich is 3-0-0-0 against Adirondack in four games and has allowed eight goals.

Scouting Adirondack
Shane Conacher (21 pts.) was returned on loan from the Syracuse Crunch Friday, rejoining an Adirondack offense that boasts seven players with at least 20 points. Ty Loney tops the team with 15 goals and 24 points and has also spent time with the Crunch.

Pierre Luc-Mercier (3a), Eric Neiley (1g, 2a) and Conor Riley (1g, 2a) all had three points last game against the Royals.

Nick Riopel earned his ninth win of the season Wednesday against Manchester with 20 saves. He is 9-9-1-0 with a 3.28 goals against average and .897 save percentage.

Hero Night on Sat., Dec. 30
The Royals will wear Captain America jerseys and meet your favorite hero on the concourse on Sat., Dec. 30 at 7:00 p.m. Reading battles the Adirondack Thunder, who will wear Ultron Jerseys.

Mental Health Awareness Night and Kelly Cup Puck Giveaway Jan. 6
Sat., Jan 6 vs. WOR at 7 p.m.: Kelly Cup Tribute Championship puck to the first 2,000 fans courtesy of Berks-Schuylkill Oil Heat Association.
Dollar Dogs and Postgame skate Jan. 7
Sun., Jan 7 vs. WOR at 4 p.m.: Dollar dog day presented by Safe Berks, Berks Packing and Coca-Cola, and a postgame skate presented by Body Zone.

Tickets to three of our biggest games for $30
Get an autographed Royals puck and come out to three of our biggest games for just $30.
– Sat., Jan. 20 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Slapshot bobblehead giveaway, THON Night, Star Wars jerseys)
– Fri., Feb. 17 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Pink in the Rink, knit scarf giveaway)
– Sat., Mar. 17 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Yannick Tifu number retired, Meet WWE Million Dollar Man)
– Sat., Mar. 24 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Worcester (Kelly Cup Tribute puck giveaway, Autism Awareness jerseys)
– Sat., Apr. 7 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Norfolk (FANdemonium, fan appreciation, fan’s choice giveaway)
– Call 610-898-PUCK and tickets are available here.

Reading Royals Mobile App
Head to the App Store and Google Play to download the new Reading Royals app on your smartphone! Stay up-to-date with team news, receive notifications and purchase tickets for your next experience at Santander Arena.

Broadcast Coverage
All Royals game can be heard on Rumba 1340 AM and the iHeartRadio app by searching “Rumba 1340”. The pregame show starts 15 minutes before puck drop. Watch Royals games on ECHL.tv. Reading away games are shown locally on BCTV.

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Huntebrinker’s hat trick propels Royals to 5-3 win

December 30, 2017, 6:45 pm

≫ Next: Game 32 Preview: Reading at Adirondack

≪ Previous: Game 31 Preview: Adirondack at Reading

Reading, PA – Michael Huntebrinker recorded his first professional hat trick and four-point game to jolt the Reading Royals to a 5-3 win over the Adirondack Thunder Saturday at Santander Arena. Brian Morgan had his first multi-goal game and finished with three points (2g, 1a). The Royals are 7-1-0-0 against Adirondack this season. The teams combined for 17 infractions and 65 penalty minutes. Reading took 24 penalty minutes.

Huntebrinker scored twice in the second period and added an empty-net goal in the third. His first strike gave the Royals the lead on the power play at 7:38 of the second with Adirondack’s Mike Bergin out of the game after a five-minute penalty for elbowing and a game misconduct.

Next, the power play expired but the Thunder did not have a man in the penalty box to serve the Bergin major infraction, allowing the “5-on-4” to proceed. Huntebrinker deflected a slot pass from Morgan at 11:54 of the frame and gave the Royals a 3-1 advantage. It was the Minnesota State graduate’s first multi-goal game since Dec. 15, 2015 in his junior year of college against Alabama-Huntsville.

Morgan scored in the first and the third. His third-period goal gave Reading a 4-1 edge.

John Muse denied all shots in the second and took his third straight victory (31 saves). Chris Nell took the loss with 21 saves.

The Royals start a five-game homestand Jan. 5 at 7:00 p.m. with Jerry “The King” Lawlerr coming to Santander Arena on Pro Wrestling Night against the Brampton Beast.

Box Score

Adirondack scored the opening strike. Desmond Bergin aimed in the first goal at 5:20 of the first on a left-circle shot.

The Royals responded with 45.7 seconds to go in the frame. Derek Whitmore fell entering across the right blue line, but slithered it on net while falling. After striking off Nell’s pads, it rebounded to Morgan at the top of the crease and he backhanded it through the legs.

Bergin was ejected at 6:15 of the second after elbowing Adam Schmidt. Reading went on a five-minute power play.

Huntebrinker put the Royals in front a minute later by angling his skate and deflecting it in, assisted by Chris McCarthy and Luukko.

The power play ended and Reading pressed. Thirty-nine seconds after the man up ended, Huntebrinker helped command the Royals to a two-goal lead with a great deflection off a Morgan pass. Mark Naclerio had the secondary assist.

Morgan rung the puck past Nell at 6:10 of the third to provide a 4-1 edge.

Terrance Wallin scored consecutive goals in the third to make it a 4-3 Reading edge.

Huntebrinker found himself alone with 12 seconds to go and tallied the icing empty-net goal.

The Royals were 1-for-3 on the man up. Adirondack scored twice on five power-play chances.

Meet Jerry “The King” Lawler on Pro Wrestling Night Jan. 5
Meet wrestling legend Jerry “The King” Lawler at Santander Arena and watch the Royals battle the Brampton Beast on Fri., Jan. 5 at 7:00 p.m.

Reading Royals Mobile App

Broadcast Coverage

↧

Game 32 Preview: Reading at Adirondack

December 31, 2017, 5:00 am

≫ Next: de Haas joins Royals before New Year’s Eve showdown at ADK

≪ Previous: Huntebrinker’s hat trick propels Royals to 5-3 win

wNew Year’s Eve showdown in Glens Falls

Glens Falls, NY – The Reading Royals (16-13-2-0, 34 pts.) are in a three-way tie for second in the North Division and conclude the calendar year with a rematch against the rival Adirondack Thunder (16-14-1-1, 34 pts.) Sunday at 5:00 p.m. The Royals, Thunder and Wheeling Nailers sit at 34 points and all the North Division play on New Year’s Eve. Reading matches Adirondack 14 times this season and the Royals hold a 7-1-0-0 season series advantage after a 5-3 win Saturday.

Coverage begins at 4:45 p.m. on Rumba 1340 and BCTV with Royals Pregame. Watch BCTV on Channel 15 Comcast and Channel 19 Service Electric. Answer our BCTV Royals Trivia Question of the Night, presented by Jimmy G’s Railroad House in Sinking Spring, PA for your chance to win a Jimmy G’s gift card.

Michael Huntebrinker recorded his first hat trick and a professional-best four points Saturday to spring the Royals to a 5-3 win vs. the Thunder Saturday. Reading accumulated 24 penalty minutes and Adirondack had 41. The teams combined for 46 PIMs in the third period. Huntebrinker sealed his hat trick with an empty-net goal at 19:48 of the third. Brian Morgan pitched in his first multi-goal and three-point night (2g, 1a).

Reading has one more home game against Adirondack the rest of the season (Jan. 12). The Royals are 5-1-0-0 against the Thunder at home and 2-0-0-0 on the road.

After Sunday’s bout, the Royals are on the road to face Worcester on Wed., Jan. 3 at 7:05 p.m., with coverage beginning at 6:50 p.m. with Royals Pregame on BCTV and Rumba 1340.

The Royals play three home games next weekend Jan. 5-7 and start a season-long five-game homestand.

Huntebrinker’s hat trick and Morgan’s three points
Michael Huntebrinker recorded professional highs with three goals and four points Saturday, while linemate Brian Morgan had the other two goals (plus three points) in the 5-3 win over Adirondack.

Huntebrinker has 11 goals this season, placing him in a tie for fifth in the league among rookies. He had last recorded a multi-goal game during his junior year of college at Minnesota State (2g vs. Alabama-Huntsville on Dec. 15, 2015). His last hat trick, and only since starting his junior career, came in 2012-13 when he played for the USHL’s Waterloo Black Hawks. In a 7-3 win over the Green Bay on Feb. 2, 2013, Huntebrinker recorded the “same trick” – his first goal was on the power play, he had two goals in the second and sealed the trick with an empty-netter in the third. Huntebrinker had four points Saturday. He has had a pair of four-point outputs since beginning his junior career – Saturday and a two-goal effort at USHL’s Sioux City on Nov. 10, 2012.

The rookie Morgan tied professional highs in goals and points Saturday. He had two goals with Pensacola (SPHL) earlier this season vs. Huntsville on Nov. 25 and three points against Fayetteville Nov. 10.

New Year’s Eve
The Royals have played seven times on New Year’s Eve and this is the third straight year opposing the Thunder on Dec. 31.

Last season, Reading took a 5-2 win at Adirondack and Robbie Czarnik netted the game-winning goal. Former Royals goalie Drew Fielding had 40 saves. Fielding is now on the Thunder. In 2015, the Royals dropped a 2-1 decision in the shootout.

Reading played its first New Year’s Eve game against Mississippi in 2004 and lost, 5-3. That was game four of an eight-game road trip. Reading reeled off wins in its next three games after Dec. 31.

2017 marks the fourth straight season the Royals play on New Year’s Eve.

First-period eruption
The Royals are outscoring opponents, 35-25, in the first period this season and much of the damage has been done against Adirondack. The Royals have 14 goals in the first frame against the Thunder and Adirondack has six. Saturday, Brian Morgan scored in the final minute of the first to coax a tie, preventing the Thunder from taking a 1-0 edge into first intermission. Reading scored the opening goal in the first six season-series matchups. All of those first goals came in the initial 20 minutes.

The squad put up three goals in the first period against Adirondack on Oct. 21, Oct. 29 and Dec. 8. Reading has scored multiple goals in the first period on four occasions against the Thunder. Adirondack managed three goals in the first against the Royals on Dec. 17.

Scouting the series
Fifteen Royals players have goals against Adirondack this season, compared to 11 Thunder players. Michael Huntebrinker’s Saturday hat trick tied him with Ryan Penny to lead the series with five goals. Huntebrinker has seven points against the Thunder in six games. With ten points (3g), Matt Willows leads all players in season series points.

John Muse is 4-0-0-0 against the Thunder, allowing nine goals. He earned his first career ECHL shutout against Adirondack in a 2-0 win on Nov. 24. Dekanich had 47 saves on 48 shots Dec. 8, the second-most saves he’s had in a game this season (5-1 win). The 10^th-year professional is 3-0-0-0 against the Thunder.

Pierre-Luc Mercier has seven points in the series to top the Thunder (2g). Chris Nell is 1-1-0-0 against the Royals and lost Saturday allowing four goals. Drew Fielding is 0-1-0-0 in three appearances and made a pair of relief appearance for Nick Riopel.

Where do we go from here?
After today, the teams play just five more times the rest of the season. The squads have another home-and-home on Jan. 12-13 and the first game of it is in Reading. The Royals are at Adirondack on Jan. 30, Feb. 24 and March 31.

Mental Health Awareness Night and Kelly Cup Puck Giveaway Jan. 6
Sat., Jan 6 vs. WOR at 7 p.m.: Kelly Cup Tribute Championship puck to the first 2,000 fans courtesy of Berks-Schuylkill Oil Heat Association. Mental Health Night is presented by the Berks County Office Of Mental Health And Developmental Disabilities.

Dollar Dogs and Postgame skate Jan. 7
Sun., Jan 7 vs. WOR at 4 p.m.: Dollar dog day presented by Safe Berks, Berks Packing and Coca-Cola, and a postgame skate presented by Body Zone.

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de Haas joins Royals before New Year’s Eve showdown at ADK

December 31, 2017, 7:00 am

≫ Next: Royals suffer 3-0 loss to Thunder

≪ Previous: Game 32 Preview: Reading at Adirondack

Returned on loan from Lehigh Valley

Glens Falls, NY – The Reading Royals received defenseman James de Haas on loan from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms Sunday prior to Reading’s 5:00 p.m. New Year’s Eve game at Adirondack.

de Haas has skated in five games with Reading, recording seven assists and a plus-eight rating. His last game with the Royals was Nov. 11 vs. Jacksonville, when he recorded a professional-high four assists and plus-five rating. After the career game, he was recalled Nov. 13 to the Phantoms. With Lehigh Valley, the Mississauga, ON native has one goal, eight assists and a plus-six rating.

Over four years at Clarkson, the rookie compiled 24 goals and 74 points in 149 games from 2013-17. During a standout senior season, de Haas registered 29 points, the most by a Clarkson blueliner in 14 seasons. He is 23 years old, stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 217 pounds.

After Sunday’s bout, the Royals are on the road to face Worcester on Wed., Jan. 3 at 7:05 p.m., with coverage beginning at 6:50 p.m. with Royals Pregame on BCTV and Rumba 1340.

The Royals play three home games next weekend Jan. 5-7 and start a season-long five-game homestand.

Mental Health Awareness Night and Kelly Cup Puck Giveaway Jan. 6
Sat., Jan 6 vs. WOR at 7 p.m.: Kelly Cup Tribute Championship puck to the first 2,000 fans courtesy of Berks-Schuylkill Oil Heat Association. Mental Health Night is presented by the Berks County Office Of Mental Health And Developmental Disabilities.

Dollar Dogs and Postgame skate Jan. 7
Sun., Jan 7 vs. WOR at 4 p.m.: Dollar dog day presented by Safe Berks, Berks Packing and Coca-Cola, and a postgame skate presented by Body Zone.

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Royals suffer 3-0 loss to Thunder

December 31, 2017, 4:14 pm

≫ Next: Weekly Release: Royals in playoff position to begin calendar year

≪ Previous: de Haas joins Royals before New Year’s Eve showdown at ADK

Glens Falls, NY – The Reading Royals ended the calendar year with a 3-0 loss to the Adirondack Thunder Sunday at Cool Insuring Arena. Adirondack managed a goal in each period. Former Royals goaltender Drew Fielding blanked Reading with 29 saves. The Royals enter the new year with a 16-14-2-0 record, good for 34 points and two behind the Thunder for second in the North Division.

Mark Dekanich made 29 saves in the defeat. His efforts included five saves in the opening minute of the game, plus a few stops with the Thunder on a 5-on-3 edge in the second.

Reading’s next game is at Worcester on Wed., Jan. 3 at 7:05 p.m. Catch the game on the iHeartRadio App by searching “Rumba 1340” or tune in to BCTV (Channel 15 Comcast, Channel 19 Service Electric).

The Royals start a five-game homestand Jan. 5 at 7:00 p.m. with Jerry “The King” Lawler coming to Santander Arena on Pro Wrestling Night against the Brampton Beast.

Box Score

Dekanich denied five shots in the opening minute. Shane Conacher gave Adirondack a 1-0 edge 46 seconds later, deflecting a net-front pass from Troy Bourke at 1:46 of the first. Mathieu Brodeur recorded the secondary assist. Dekanich denied 10 shots in the first.

Brodeur scored the second goal of the game on a low shot attempted at the right blue line through traffic at 6:22 of the second. It was Brodeur’s first of the season and his first goal since the Calder Cup Playoffs with the Syracuse Crunch in 2016-17. Pierre-Luc Mercier had the helper.

James Henry extended the edge to 3-0 with a goal at 6:49 of the third with a power-play goal.

Reading was 0-for-4 on the man up. Adirondack went 1-for-5.

Reading Royals Mobile App

Broadcast Coverage

↧

Weekly Release: Royals in playoff position to begin calendar year

January 1, 2018, 6:54 am

≫ Next: Former Royals F Ryan Cruthers named Head Coach of USHL’s Chicago Steel

≪ Previous: Royals suffer 3-0 loss to Thunder

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals (16-14-2-0, 34 pts., T-3^rd North) are in playoff position to begin the 2018 calendar year and have four games this week, including three home contests Jan. 5-7.

The Royals went 2-1-0-0 last week and scored 11 goals in three games. The turnaround included a 6-2 triumph over Worcester in front of more than 4,000 fans on Thursday. Reading wore Captain America jerseys and hosted its first-ever Saturday in a 5-3 victory vs. Adirondack (Ultron).

Reading is at Worcester this Wed., Jan. 3 for a 7:05 p.m. puck drop. The squads play four times from Jan. 3-10. After Wednesday, the Royals begin a five-game home stand. Here’s what’s going on at Santander Arena.

$5 Green Zone Tickets, Dollar Dogs and Postgame skate Jan. 7
Sun., Jan 7 vs. WOR at 4 p.m.: $5 Green Zone Tickets, Dollar dog day presented by Safe Berks, Berks Packing and Coca-Cola, and a postgame skate presented by Body Zone.

$5 Green Zone Tickets vs. Worcester on Wed., Jan. 10
Wed., Jan. 10 vs. WOR at 7 p.m. The Royals return $5 Green Zone tickets as a special fan gift for all games played Sunday-Thursday in January.

Pucks ‘N Paws Night, gym bag giveaway, Weiner Dog Races Fri., Jan. 12
Fri., Jan. 12 vs. ADK at 7 p.m. – First 2,000 fans receive a gym bag (Tower Health). It’s also Pucks ‘N Paws Night and Weiner Dog Races. There will be a special doggy puck drop.

Team Leaders (Active players)
Goals: Matt Willows/Michael Huntebrinker (11), Mark Naclerio (10)
Assists: Matt Willows (16), Mark Naclerio (15), Adam Schmidt (12)
Points: Matt Willows (27), Mark Naclerio (25), Chris McCarthy/Ryan Penny (19)
PIMs: Matt Willows (36), Ryan Penny (35), Jimmy DeVito (32)
+/-: Frank Hora (12), Michael Huntebrinker (9), Matt Wilkins (8)

Practice schedule

Monday – New Year’s Day OFF Day

Tuesday – Royals leave for Worcester at 11:00 a.m.

Wednesday – game at 7:05 p.m. at WOR

Thursday – OFF Day

Friday – Morning skate at 10:00 a.m. Game at 7:00 p.m. vs. BRM

Saturday – Game at 7 p.m. vs. WOR

Sunday – Game at 4 p.m. vs. WOR

This Week

Game 33 at Worcester: Wed., Jan. 3 at 7:05 p.m.

Listen on Rumba 1340 (iHeartRadio app). Watch on ECHL.tv and BCTV

Game 34 vs. Brampton: Fri., Jan. 5 at 7:00 p.m.

Listen on Rumba 1340 (iHeartRadio app). Watch ECHL.tv.
Meet wrestling legend Jerry “The King” Lawler at Santander Arena

Game 35 vs. Worcester: Sat., Jan. 6 at 7:00 p.m.

Listen on Rumba 1340 (iHeartRadio app), Watch on ECHL.tv.
Kelly Cup Tribute Championship puck to the first 2,000 fans courtesy of Berks-Schuylkill Oil Heat Association.

Game 36 vs. Worcester: Sun., Jan. 7 at 4:00 p.m.

Listen on Rumba 1340 (iHeartRadio app), Watch on ECHL.tv.
$5 Green Zone Tickets, Dollar dog day presented by Safe Berks, Berks Packing and Coca-Cola, and a postgame skate presented by Body Zone.

Big 3 Storylines
3) Win and they will come

The Royals had two of its best crowds of the season Thursday and Saturday at Santander Arena. Thursday, Reading filled the Green Zone with $5 tickets and 4,093 fans packed the rink to watch a 6-2 win. Saturday, more than 3,300 came through the gates to watch a 5-3 triumph over Adirondack.

The wildly successful $5 Green Zone tickets promotion continues as a special gift to our great fans in January 2018. Any January home game from Sunday-Thursday will have $5 Green Zone tickets.

Reading has an 11-5-0-0 record at home, best in the North Division.

2) Rook success

The Royals have added rookies F Jimmy DeVito, D Matias Cleland, F Jack Ceglarski, F Brian Morgan and D Nick Neville over the last month. Other first-year players F Michael Huntebrinker, D Frank Hora and D James de Haas have been wildly successful in their debuts.

Huntebrinker topped the Royals with eight goals this month (11 points) and added his first professional hat trick Saturday. Morgan scored the game-winning goal Saturday and had his first ECHL multi-goal and three-point night (2g, 1a). DeVito has scored two goals in his first five games with the Royals. Meanwhile, Hora and de Haas paired together Sunday. Combined, Hora has a plus-18 rating and de Haas has a plus-11 including their stints in Lehigh Valley.

1) Jerry “The King” Lawler
With WWE legend Jerry “The King” Lawler set to make an appearance at Santander Arena, catch The King with Royals In-Arena Host Mike Keller on WEEU this Tues., Jan. 2 at 8:05 a.m. To listen, tune to WEEU 830 AM.
About the Royals
The Royals have been owned by serial entrepreneur Jack Gulati since 2014 and are in their 17^th ECHL season. Proudly affiliated with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers and AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Reading plays at Santander Arena, located in downtown Reading, PA at 700 Penn Street. The Royals won the Kelly Cup in 2013, have made the playoffs in eight straight seasons and are four-time division champions.

Reading Royals Mobile App

Broadcast Coverage

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Former Royals F Ryan Cruthers named Head Coach of USHL’s Chicago Steel

January 2, 2018, 6:30 pm

≫ Next: Game 33 Preview: Reading at Worcester

≪ Previous: Weekly Release: Royals in playoff position to begin calendar year

Team’s all-time leading scorer was a Royals assistant last season

Reading, PA – Former Reading Royals forward and assistant coach Ryan Cruthers was named Interim Head Coach and Assistant General Manager of the United States Hockey League’s Chicago Steel Tuesday. Cruthers played for the Royals from 2009-12 and 2013-15 and is the team’s all-time leading scorer with 273 points (86 goals) in 278 games. He served as a Royals player-assistant coach in 2014-15 and was Reading’s interim assistant coach in Apr. 2017.

The 33-year-old was the Head Coach of the Charlotte Rush (USPHL Premier) the last three seasons, leading the team to a 2017 league championship.

In Chicago, Cruthers joins former Royals forward Ben Gordon, who is the team’s Associate Head Coach. Gordon is fourth on Reading’s points list (144). Chicago won the Clark Cup in 2017.

Cruthers was Reading’s Captain from 2010-12 and an alternate captain in 2014-15. He started his coaching career in Reading while playing for the Royals, serving as Alvernia University’s club hockey coach.

The United States Hockey League (USHL) is the nation’s only Tier 1 junior hockey league. Jimmy DeVito and Michael Huntebrinker played for the Chicago Steel during their junior careers. Reading has nine former USHL players on its roster – Huntebrinker, DeVito, Nolan Zajac (Cedar Rapids/Omaha), Adam Schmidt (Sioux City), Matias Cleland (Waterloo, Omaha), Derek Whitmore (Lincoln/Waterloo), Mark Naclerio (Waterloo), Nick Luukko (Dubuque) and Brian Morgan (Indiana/Muskegon).

The Royals are at Worcester Wed., Jan. 3 at 7:05 p.m. and start a five-game home stand this Fri., Jan. 5 at 7:00 p.m. against Brampton on Pro Wrestling Night with WWE’s Jerry “The King” Lawler.

Mental Health Awareness Night and Kelly Cup Puck Giveaway Jan. 6
Sat., Jan 6 vs. WOR at 7 p.m.: Kelly Cup Tribute Championship puck to the first 2,000 fans courtesy of Berks-Schuylkill Oil Heat Association. Mental Health Night is presented by the Berks County Office Of Mental Health And Developmental Disabilities.

Dollar Dogs and Postgame skate Jan. 7
Sun., Jan 7 vs. WOR at 4 p.m.: Dollar dog day presented by Safe Berks, Berks Packing and Coca-Cola, and a postgame skate presented by Body Zone.

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Game 33 Preview: Reading at Worcester

January 3, 2018, 5:43 am

≫ Next: Royals escape Worcester with 2-1 OT win

≪ Previous: Former Royals F Ryan Cruthers named Head Coach of USHL’s Chicago Steel

Royals and Railers start busy series stretch

Worcester, MA – The Reading Royals (16-14-2-0, 34 pts., T-3^rd North) look for their second straight win against the Worcester Railers (12-13-2-2, 28 points, 6^th North) Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. from DCU Center. The Royals demolished the Railers, 6-2, in Reading last Thursday.

The teams match four times in the next week. The Royals play four of the next five against the Railers. Reading is 2-3-0-0 against the Railers and the squads play 14 times this season.

Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on Rumba 1340 and BCTV with Royals Pregame. Watch BCTV on Channel 15 Comcast and Channel 19 Service Electric. Answer our BCTV Royals Trivia Question of the Night, presented by Jimmy G’s Railroad House in Sinking Spring, PA for your chance to win a Jimmy G’s gift card.

Reading is 2-1-0-0 since returning from the holiday break. Last time out, Reading split a weekend series with the Adirondack and lost, 3-0, Sunday. Worcester has lost three straight games – one to Reading and two against Manchester.

The Royals play three home games Jan. 5-7 and start a five-game home stand. On Fri., Jan. 5, meet Jerry “The King” Lawler as the Royals host the Brampton Beast at 7:00 p.m.

Muse strong in Reading
Royals goaltender John Muse has won consecutive starts since returning from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms last week. Muse defeated Worcester with 37 saves Thurs., Dec. 28. Possessing an 8-3-1-0 record, Muse is sixth in the league with a .924 save percentage and 10^th with a 2.51 goals against average. The “Moose” is 7-1-0-0 at home this season. Overall, the Royals provide him with 3.67 goals/game when he starts. On the road, Reading has scored nine goals in four starts to aid Muse.

A native of East Falmouth, MA, Muse was a two-time national champion at Boston College (2008, 2010) and the 2012 Kelly Cup Playoffs MVP with Florida.

Willows leads in scoring and PIMs
Matt Willows is Reading’s “triple crown” scoring leader (goals, assists, points) and has taken the team’s active lead in penalty minutes (36). Outside of games against Adirondack, the third-year professional has taken just four minor penalties (8 minutes). Willows is tied for a team-high 11 goals with rookie Michael Huntebrinker and has 16 assists for 27 points.

Last time against Worcester, Willows tied a season high with three points (1g, 2a). He has one career four-point game, one hat trick and ten games with at least three points.

The 2015-16 ECHL Rookie of the Year, Willows has 43 multi-point games in 166 ECHL games.

Brown is back
The Royals expect Tyler Brown to return from an injury absence over the next few games. He has played in 21 games for Reading this season (2g, 3a) and missed the last ten.

Head-to-head series
Reading is 2-3-0-0 against the Railers. The Royals have won two of three matchups since dropping the opening two meetings. Reading is 1-3-0-0 in games at Worcester. On Dec. 20, the Railers received a goal from Barry Almeida and won, 1-0, despite 28 saves from Mark Dekanich.

Royals goaltenders (Dekanich, John Muse) are allowing two goals/start against the Railers. Dekanich is 1-2-0-0 in three appearances (2.05 goals against average, .928 save percentage). John Muse is 1-1-0-0 (2.04 GAA, .941 save percentage).

Worcester’s Mitch Gillam shut out the Royals Dec. 20 and has stopped 59 of 61 shots against Reading in three appearances (2-0-0-0 record). The Railers pulled Eamon McAdam after two periods Dec. 28 when the Penn State graduate allowed five goals on 23 shots. The Perkasie, PA native has given up nine goals in three starts against Reading.

Ten Royals have goals against the Railers. Chris McCarthy (2g), Mark Naclerio (2g) and Matt Willows (1g) lead Reading with four points in the series. Ryan Penny and Adam Schmidt have one goal and three points against Worcester.

Woody Hudson has three of his ten goals against the Royals. Barry Almeida and Matty Gaudreau each have two goals and three points against the Royals. Matt Lane (3a) also has three points. Frank DiChaira and Jeff Kubiak have one goal and two points.

Scouting Worcester
Railers defenseman Pat McNally has been suspended from the team, leaving Worcester without its leading scorer (12g, 24 pts). McNally led ECHL blueliners in goals.

Without McNally, Chris Langkow is next in line (24 points), but he was loaned to Hartford on Dec. 28. Woody Hudson leads active Railers with 10 goals. Former Royals forward Barry Almeida is third on the team behind McNally and Langkow with 19 points (8g).

Eamon McAdam is 7-7-2-2 with a 2.93 goals against average and .909 save percentage. Mitch Gillam turned aside 35 shots last game, but he dropped sixth game of the season in a 4-2 loss at Manchester. The rookie and Cornell graduate has a 5-6-0-0 record, 2.57 goals against average and .905 save percentage.

Mental Health Awareness Night and Kelly Cup Puck Giveaway Jan. 6
Sat., Jan 6 vs. WOR at 7 p.m.: Kelly Cup Tribute Championship puck to the first 2,000 fans courtesy of Berks-Schuylkill Oil Heat Association. Mental Health Night is presented by the Berks County Office Of Mental Health And Developmental Disabilities.

Dollar Dogs and Postgame skate Jan. 7
Sun., Jan 7 vs. WOR at 4 p.m.: Dollar dog day presented by Safe Berks, Berks Packing and Coca-Cola, and a postgame skate presented by Body Zone.

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Royals escape Worcester with 2-1 OT win

January 3, 2018, 6:35 pm

≫ Next: Jerry “The King” Lawler rescheduled for Sun., Feb. 18 due to inclement weather

≪ Previous: Game 33 Preview: Reading at Worcester

Worcester, MA – Matt Willows scored with 2:20 left in overtime and the Reading Royals snuck by the Worcester Railers, 2-1, Wednesday at the DCU Center. Reading’s leading scorer (12 goals) flew up the right wing and shot it from the right circle off the far post and in. His goal came on a 3-on-1 rush moments after the puck stayed outside John Muse’s crease on a shot in front of the net. Muse savored the win with 31 saves, including three extra-session denials.

Worcester’s Woody Hudson tied the game with 51 seconds left. Muse made his first 28 saves before yielding.

James de Haas recorded his first Reading goal and assisted on the overtime winner. The Royals have 36 points (17-14-2-0), one ahead of Wheeling for third in the North Division.

de Haas ripped in the opening goal short-handed at 7:21 of the second, snapping the puck off a rebound at the left circle and assisted by Mark Naclerio. Both of de Haas’ pro goals have been short-handed. Naclerio fed de Haas on a short-handed rush and the defenseman gained the blue line. He dragged it, let a body fly by and shot it. After his initial shot was denied, he shoved the rebound top shelf and by Eamon McAdam. de Haas’ first professional goal came down a man in the third period of a Lehigh Valley (AHL) victory over Springfield (11/24/17).

McAdam allowed one goal on 26 shots (OTL).

The Royals power play was 0-for-5. Worcester went 0-for-4 on the man up.

The Royals start a five-game homestand Jan. 5 at 7:00 p.m. with Jerry “The King” Lawler coming to Santander Arena on Pro Wrestling Night against the Brampton Beast. Reading and Worcester face each other three straight games at Santander Arena, beginning Sat. Jan. 6 with a Kelly Cup Puck Giveaway and Mental Health Awareness Night.

Box Score.

Mental Health Awareness Night and Kelly Cup Puck Giveaway Jan. 6
Sat., Jan 6 vs. WOR at 7 p.m.: Kelly Cup Tribute Championship puck to the first 2,000 fans courtesy of Berks-Schuylkill Oil Heat Association.
$5 Green Zone Tickets Dollar Dogs and Postgame skate Jan. 7
Sun., Jan 7 vs. WOR at 4 p.m.: Dollar dog day presented by Safe Berks, Berks Packing and Coca-Cola, and a postgame skate presented by Body Zone.

Purple and Black three-game pack on sale –
Get an autographed Royals puck and come out to three of our biggest games for just $30.
– Sat., Jan. 20 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Slapshot bobblehead giveaway, THON Night, Star Wars jerseys)
– Fri., Feb. 17 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Pink in the Rink, knit scarf giveaway)
– Sat., Mar. 17 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Yannick Tifu number retired, Meet WWE Million Dollar Man)
– Sat., Mar. 24 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Worcester (Kelly Cup Tribute puck giveaway, Autism Awareness jerseys)
– Sat., Apr. 7 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Norfolk (FANdemonium, fan appreciation, fan’s choice giveaway)
– Call 610-898-PUCK and tickets are available here.

Reading Royals Mobile App

Broadcast Coverage

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Jerry “The King” Lawler rescheduled for Sun., Feb. 18 due to inclement weather

January 4, 2018, 10:35 am

≫ Next: Alex Krushelnyski named to 2018 ECHL/CCM All-Star Team

≪ Previous: Royals escape Worcester with 2-1 OT win

Royals announce two changes to promotional calendar

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals rescheduled WWE legend Jerry “The King” Lawler’s appearance at Santander Arena for Sun., Feb. 18 at 4:00 p.m. due to inclement weather on the east coast, the team announced Thursday. Lawler was set to appear at the Royals game on Fri., Jan. 5. The King will be at the game to meet fans when Reading hosts the Wheeling Nailers on Feb. 18, courtesy of Tower Health.

Fans can meet The King on the new date and watch Reading battle Wheeling on Faith and Family Night, Dollar Dog Day, Slapshot T-Shirt giveaway (Bethany Children’s Home) and a postgame skate (pres. by Body Zone). Fans that would like to exchange their tickets for the Feb. 18 game can call the Royals ticketing office at 610-898-7825. Any other questions about the game can be emailed to info@royalshockey.com.

View the new promotional schedule

The Royals also announced that Pucks ‘N Paws will be moved to Fri., Mar. 30 at 7:00 p.m., when the Royals host Manchester for Save the Earth Night and a team poster giveaway courtesy of Rieck’s Printing. Pucks ‘N Paws was originally scheduled for Fri., Jan. 12 at 7:00 p.m.

Including tonight, some off Reading’s biggest home games are against Brampton. Sat., Jan. 20 is THON Night, Star Wars Jerseys and Scout Night, with the first 2,000 fans receiving a bobblehead of the Royals’ mascot Slapshot in a storm trooper costume on Star Wars Night. Sat., Feb. 17 is Pink in the Rink and Nurse Appreciation Night, with a pink knit scarf giveaway and pink ice. The biggest home game of all against Brampton is St. HatTrick’s Day on Sat., March 17 against the Beast. On the 17^th, Reading retires Yannick Tifu’s #10, a Tifu poster giveaway and the WWE’s “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase will be in the house to wrestle Tifu.

Brampton won the opening two games of the nine-game season series at Powerade Center.

Mental Health Awareness Night and Kelly Cup Puck Giveaway Jan. 6
Sat., Jan 6 vs. WOR at 7 p.m.: Kelly Cup Tribute Championship puck to the first 2,000 fans courtesy of Berks-Schuylkill Oil Heat Association. Mental Health Night is presented by the Berks County Office Of Mental Health And Developmental Disabilities.

Dollar Dogs and Postgame skate Jan. 7
Sun., Jan 7 vs. WOR at 4 p.m.: Dollar dog day presented by Safe Berks, Berks Packing and Coca-Cola, and a postgame skate presented by Body Zone.

Tickets to three of our biggest games for $30 – Purple and Black Pack
Get an autographed Royals puck and come out to three of our biggest games for just $30.
– Sat., Jan. 20 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Slapshot bobblehead giveaway, THON Night, Star Wars jerseys)
– Fri., Feb. 17 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Pink in the Rink, knit scarf giveaway)
– Sat., Mar. 17 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Yannick Tifu number retired, Meet WWE Million Dollar Man)
– Sat., Mar. 24 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Worcester (Kelly Cup Tribute puck giveaway, Autism Awareness jerseys)
– Sat., Apr. 7 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Norfolk (FANdemonium, fan appreciation, fan’s choice giveaway)
– Call 610-898-PUCK and tickets are available here.

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Alex Krushelnyski named to 2018 ECHL/CCM All-Star Team

January 4, 2018, 11:15 am

≫ Next: Game 34 Preview: Brampton at Reading

≪ Previous: Jerry “The King” Lawler rescheduled for Sun., Feb. 18 due to inclement weather

Forward’s 2^nd ECHL All-Star Selection

Reading, PA – Reading Royals forward Alex Krushelnyski has been named to the North Division roster for the 2018 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic, to be hosted by the Indy Fuel on Monday, Jan. 15 at 1 p.m. ET at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Krushelnyski made the 2015 ECHL All-Star with Utah, scored in the game and won the Fastest Skater Competition (13.47 seconds). He was recalled on loan to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms Dec. 11, 2017 and has been on the Phantoms’ roster for the last three weeks.

Watch Krushelnyski’s All-Star Highlight Reel

Krushelnyski is third on the Royals with ten goals and 22 points in 19 games. He has eight multi-point games this season, tied for the team lead. With Lehigh Valley, he has two assists in 12 games. This is Krushelnyski’s first season with the Flyers organization.

A fourth-year professional from Bloomfield Hills, MI, Krushelnyski had three goals and seven points in 43 games with Binghamton last season. He combined for 15 games with Wichita and Allen in 2016-17 and recorded seven goals and 17 points.

In 164 ECHL games, Krushelnyski has 59 goals, 156 points and 40 multi-point games. During his All-Star selection season in 2014-15 with Utah, he recorded a career-best 40 assists and was third on the team with 57 points.

The All-Star Classic features four teams representing each of the League’s divisions. In a format similar to those adapted by the NHL and AHL All-Star Games, the four teams will compete in a 3-on-3 tournament in order to crown a winner. The two semifinal matches will be played within the Eastern and Western Conferences; with the East Division taking on the South Division and the Central Division facing the Mountain Division. The 2018 CCM/ECHL All-Star Skills Competition will take place after the second semifinal game, with the championship round following immediately at the conclusion of the Skills Competition.

The 2018 rosters feature 27 first-time ECHL All-Star selections, 12 rookies and nine players who have been selected in the NHL Entry Draft.

More than 65 players from the ECHL All-Star Game have gone on to play in the National Hockey League, including 51 since 2002 when the lineups began having players who coaches felt were prospects to move up to a higher level.

The rosters were determined in a vote of coaches, team captains, media relations directors, broadcasters and members of the media. Each of the ECHL teams is represented by a player in the 2018 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic.

North Division All-Stars

G – Etienne Marcoux, Indy Fuel

D – Matt Petgrave, Brampton Beast

F – Woody Hudson, Worcester Railers

F – Alex Krushelnyski, Reading Royals

F – Ty Loney, Adirondack Thunder

F – Joel Lowry, Manchester Monarchs

F – Cody Wydo, Wheeling Nailers

South Division All-Stars

G – Martin Ouellette, Florida Everblades

D – Christopher Dienes, Jacksonville Icemen

D – Nolan Valleau, Orlando Solar Bears

F – Grant Besse, Norfolk Admirals

F – Taylor Cammarata, South Carolina Stingrays

F – Caleb Herbert, Greenville Swamp Rabbits

F – Phil Lane, Atlanta Gladiators

Central Division All-Stars

G – Pat Nagle, Toledo Walleye

D – Kyle Bushee, Kalamazoo Wings

D – Willie Raskob, Quad City Mallards

F – Justin Danforth, Cincinnati Cyclones

F – Mike McMurtry, Kansas City Mavericks

F – Michael Neal, Indy Fuel

F – Artur Tyanulin, Fort Wayne Komets

Mountain Division All-Stars

G – Shane Starrett, Wichita Thunder

D – David Makowski, Allen Americans

D – Cliff Watson, Utah Grizzlies

F – Conner Bleakley, Tulsa Oilers

F – Michael Joly, Colorado Eagles

F – Justin Parizek, Idaho Steelheads

F – Dante Salituro, Rapid City Rush

Mental Health Awareness Night and Kelly Cup Puck Giveaway Jan. 6
Sat., Jan 6 vs. WOR at 7 p.m.: Kelly Cup Tribute Championship puck to the first 2,000 fans courtesy of Berks-Schuylkill Oil Heat Association. Mental Health Night is presented by the Berks County Office Of Mental Health And Developmental Disabilities.

Dollar Dogs and Postgame skate Jan. 7
Sun., Jan 7 vs. WOR at 4 p.m.: Dollar dog day presented by Safe Berks, Berks Packing and Coca-Cola, and a postgame skate presented by Body Zone.

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Game 34 Preview: Brampton at Reading

January 5, 2018, 6:00 am

≫ Next: Friday’s Royals game vs. Brampton streamed on Facebook as the ECHL.TV Showcase Game

≪ Previous: Alex Krushelnyski named to 2018 ECHL/CCM All-Star Team

Royals start home 3-in-3 vs. Beast

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals (17-14-2-0, 36 pts., 3^rd North) start a five-game home stand and look to spike the Brampton Beast (14-13-1-2, 31 pts., 5^th North) Friday at 7:00 p.m. Reading also plays home games Saturday and Sunday against Worcester. Saturday’s game is already close to a sell-out and fans get tickets by visiting royalshockey.com, ticketmaster.com or calling 610-898-7825.

A reminder to fans: Jerry “The King” Lawler has rescheduled his appearance due to inclement weather on the east coast, but “The King” has graciously rescheduled his appearance for Sun., Feb. 18 at 4:00 p.m., courtesy of Tower Health. Fans can meet The King and watch Reading battle Wheeling on Faith and Family Night, Dollar Dog Day, Slapshot T-Shirt giveaway (Bethany Children’s Home) and a postgame skate (pres. by Body Zone). Questions about this rescheduling? Call 610-898-7825 or email info@royalshockey.com.

The Royals are coming off a 2-1 overtime at Worcester and Matt Willows scored the extra-session goal with 2:20 to go. Brampton is in the sixth game of a seven-game road trip and has dropped consecutive games. The Beast are 2-3-0-0 entering the last weekend of the trip.

Reading is two points behind Adirondack for second in the North Division.

Including tonight, some of Reading’s biggest home games are against Brampton. Sat., Jan. 20 is THON Night, Star Wars Jerseys and Scout Night, with the first 2,000 fans receiving a bobblehead of the Royals’ mascot Slapshot in a storm trooper costume on Star Wars Night. Sat., Feb. 17 is Pink in the Rink and Nurse Appreciation Night, with a pink knit scarf giveaway and pink ice. The biggest home game of all against Brampton is St. HatTrick’s Day on Sat., March 17 against the Beast. On the 17^th, Reading retires Yannick Tifu’s #10, a Tifu poster giveaway and the WWE’s “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase will be in the house to wrestle Tifu.

Brampton won the opening two games of the nine-game season series at Powerade Center.

Krushelnyski rewarded with All-Star selection
Reading Royals forward Alex Krushelnyski has been named to the North Division roster for the 2018 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic, to be hosted by the Indy Fuel on Monday, Jan. 15 at 1 p.m. ET at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Krushelnyski made the 2015 ECHL All-Star with Utah, scored in the game and won the Fastest Skater Competition (13.47 seconds). He was recalled on loan to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms Dec. 11, 2017 and has been on the Phantoms’ roster for the last three weeks.

de Haas continues to star
James de Haas had two points (1g, 1a) in Reading’s 2-1 OT win over Worcester Wednesday. It’s his fourth career multi-point game and his third with Reading. He scored the go-ahead goal midway through the second in Wednesday’s win, dragging the puck and stuffing it by Eamon McAdam. Next, he assisted on the overtime winner by Matt Willows.

He has one goal and nine points in seven games with the Royals. Combined with his 19 Lehigh Valley games, the rookie and Clarkson graduate has two goals, 17 points and a plus-12 rating in 26 games.

Both of de Haas’ professional goals have been short-handed. His first came Nov. 24 vs. Springfield.

de Haas had four assists and a plus-five rating in Reading’s win over Jacksonville Nov. 11.

Muse dominance
John Muse is 3-0-0-0 since returning on loan from Lehigh Valley and made 32 saves in Wednesday’s win. He has allowed six goals. Including his time with the Phantoms, he has won four straight starts. Muse boasts a 9-3-1-0 record, 2.38 goals against average and .928 save percentage.

Scouting Brampton
Friday is Brampton’s first game in the new calendar year and the Beast finished 2017 with a 2-1 loss to Cincinnati on New Year’s Eve. Leading scorer Brandon Marino (27 points) was held without a point. He has two goals and three points in his last eight games. In the previous eight contests, Marino had 12 points.

David Vallorani started the season in Sweden but came back to Brampton in December and is tied for a team-best seven points (3 goals) over the last month. He was fifth in the league with 52 assists and 83 points last season. As a rookie in 2012-13, he won the Kelly Cup with the Royals and was named to league’s all-rookie team with 59 points.

Andrew D’Agostini last played December 16 despite winning his last three starts. The returning netminder has a 5-2-0-1 record, 3.09 goals against average and .899 save percentage in eight games. Five netminders have played for the Beast.

Head-to-Head series
The Royals allowed three goals in the third period to the Beast in a 5-4 loss Nov. 19. Alex Krushelnyski scored two goals in the first 7:30 of the game. Steven Swavely and Michael Huntebrinker also tallied. Mark Dekanich made 30 saves on 35 shots and Marcus Hogberg won his second straight start against Reading with 23 saves (4 GA).

Hogberg, now in the AHL with Belleville, beat the Royals on consecutive games. In the first game of the series, he made his first 36 saves, but allowed a goal on the final shot of the game with five seconds left to Swavely to snap the shutout. The Beast won the game, 3-1. John Muse made 28 saves in defeat.

Brampton’s Alex Foster has three goals in the series. Brandon Marino has three assists.

Mental Health Awareness Night and Kelly Cup Puck Giveaway Jan. 6
Sat., Jan 6 vs. WOR at 7 p.m.: Kelly Cup Tribute Championship puck to the first 2,000 fans courtesy of Berks-Schuylkill Oil Heat Association. Mental Health Night is presented by the Berks County Office Of Mental Health And Developmental Disabilities.

Dollar Dogs and Postgame skate Jan. 7
Sun., Jan 7 vs. WOR at 4 p.m.: Dollar dog day presented by Safe Berks, Berks Packing and Coca-Cola, and a postgame skate presented by Body Zone.

↧

Friday’s Royals game vs. Brampton streamed on Facebook as the ECHL.TV Showcase Game

January 5, 2018, 3:30 pm

≫ Next: Royals stay unblemished in calendar year with 3-2 win against Beast

≪ Previous: Game 34 Preview: Brampton at Reading

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals game against the Brampton Beast on Fri., Jan. 5 at 7:00 p.m. will be streamed live on the ECHL Facebook page as the ECHL.TV Showcase Game, the league announced. This is the only Royals game this season that will be streamed live on Facebook.

Listen to Royals broadcasters David Fine and Pat Richards beginning at 6:45 p.m. with Royals Pregame. Fans will have the opportunity to engage with David and Pat for a chance to win prizes. WWE’s Jerry “The King” Lawler will be at Santander Arena to meet fans.

Friday’s matchup between the Royals and Beast is a rematch of the 2017 Kelly Cup Playoffs North Division Semifinals, which Reading lost in six games. It is the first time the Beast visit Santander Arena since the game.

The ECHL.TV Showcase Game gives fans the opportunity to see all 27 ECHL teams in action through the ECHL.TV platform live on the ECHL Facebook Page.

Visit ECHL.TV to become a subscriber and enjoy all of the action of the ECHL’s 30th Anniversary Season. The online streaming platform gives ECHL fans more access and options than ever before including the ability to watch live games on PC, iPhone, iPad and Android devices all through a single user account. New for this season, fans will be able to also watch games on Apple TV, Chromecast and Amazon Fire TV, for no additional cost.

Remaining ECHL.TV Showcase Game Schedule

Jan. 5 – Brampton at Reading

Jan. 19 – Idaho at Tulsa

Feb. 2 – Orlando at South Carolina

Feb. 16 – Kalamazoo at Quad City

Mar. 2 – Wheeling at Worcester

Mar. 16 – Indy at Cincinnati

Mar. 30 – Greenville at Florida

Apr. 6 – Wichita at Colorado

Mental Health Awareness Night and Kelly Cup Puck Giveaway Jan. 6
Sat., Jan 6 vs. WOR at 7 p.m.: Kelly Cup Tribute Championship puck to the first 2,000 fans courtesy of Berks-Schuylkill Oil Heat Association. Mental Health Night is presented by the Berks County Office Of Mental Health And Developmental Disabilities.

Dollar Dogs and Postgame skate Jan. 7
Sun., Jan 7 vs. WOR at 4 p.m.: Dollar dog day presented by Safe Berks, Berks Packing and Coca-Cola, and a postgame skate presented by Body Zone.

↧

Royals stay unblemished in calendar year with 3-2 win against Beast

January 5, 2018, 7:01 pm

≫ Next: Game 35 Preview: Worcester at Reading

≪ Previous: Friday’s Royals game vs. Brampton streamed on Facebook as the ECHL.TV Showcase Game

Reading is 2-0-0-0 in 2018

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals (18-14-2-0) slayed the Brampton Beast (14-12-1-2), 3-2, Friday night at Santander Arena. John Muse tied a season high with 41 saves and is 10-3-1-0 on the season. He made 13 saves in the third and is 4-0-0-0 since returning from the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

The Royals kicked off their five-game home stand with a victory to move within one point of the Adirondack Thunder for second in the North Division.

Box Score

Captain Derek Whitmore opened the scoring with an unassisted power-play goal at 12:23 in the first period. The Beast turned over the puck in front of their net, resulting in Whitmore pushing the puck by netminder Andrew D’Agostini’s post and left skate for the 1-0 lead. D’Agostini made 30 saves in defeat.

The Beast countered at 1:40 of the middle frame as Willie Corrin solved Muse glove side for his second of the season and first goal since returning from his time in the AHL. The Royals regained their lead with Ryan Penny and Chris McCarthy each tallying their ninth goals of the season. Royals leading play makers, Mark Naclerio and Matt Willows each tallied their 17^th assists of the season on the second-period goals. Reading led by two, 3-1, after two.

After Muse denied a Beast forward with his toe, Penny came up the ice and snuck it in, assisted by Naclerio and Scott Tanski at 4:34.

Willows and Huntebrinker assisted on the next goal eight minutes later from McCarthy.

The Royals were able to preserve their lead throughout the third period despite giving up a goal in the final six minutes of regulation time to Luc-Olivier Blain.

Reading was 1-for–2 on the power play while Brampton never had a man advantage.

Reading and Worcester face each other three straight games at Santander Arena, beginning Sat. Jan. 6 at 7:00 p.m. with a Kelly Cup Championship Tribute Puck Giveaway and Mental Health Awareness Night.

Mental Health Awareness Night and Kelly Cup Puck Giveaway Jan. 6
Sat., Jan 6 vs. WOR at 7 p.m.: Kelly Cup Tribute Championship puck to the first 2,000 fans courtesy of Berks-Schuylkill Oil Heat Association.
$5 Green Zone Tickets Dollar Dogs and Postgame skate Jan. 7
Sun., Jan 7 vs. WOR at 4 p.m.: Dollar dog day presented by Safe Berks, Berks Packing and Coca-Cola, and a postgame skate presented by Body Zone.

Purple and Black three-game pack on sale
Get an autographed Royals puck and come out to three of our biggest games for just $30.
– Sat., Jan. 20 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Slapshot bobblehead giveaway, THON Night, Star Wars jerseys)
– Fri., Feb. 17 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Pink in the Rink, knit scarf giveaway)
– Sat., Mar. 17 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Yannick Tifu number retired, Meet WWE Million Dollar Man)
– Sat., Mar. 24 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Worcester (Kelly Cup Tribute puck giveaway, Autism Awareness jerseys)
– Sat., Apr. 7 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Norfolk (FANdemonium, fan appreciation, fan’s choice giveaway)
– Call 610-898-PUCK and tickets are available here.

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Game 35 Preview: Worcester at Reading

January 6, 2018, 6:14 am

≫ Next: F Tyrell Goulbourne becomes 1st former Royal to play for Flyers

≪ Previous: Royals stay unblemished in calendar year with 3-2 win against Beast

Division foes play two to finish weekend

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals (18-14-2-0, 38 pts., 3^rd North) are 12-5-0-0 at home and set for a divisional battle against the Worcester Railers (13-13-3-2, 31 pts., T-5^th North) Saturday at 7:00 p.m. It’s Mental Health Awareness Night, presented by the Berks County Office Of Mental Health And Developmental Disabilities. Fans can get tickets by visiting royalshockey.com, ticketmaster.com or calling 610-898-7825.

Reading is starting a stretch of three straight games against the Railers. The Royals rematch Worcester at 4:00 p.m. on Sun., Jan. 7 for dollar dogs and a postgame skate, presented by Body Zone. The $1 hot dogs are presented by Safe Berks, Berks Packing and Coca-Cola.

The Royals denied Brampton, 3-2, Friday to move within one point of Adirondack for second in the North Division. The Railers overcame the Thunder in a shootout, 4-3, Friday despite allowing the tying goal in the final minute of regulation.

The season series is tied, 3-3. There are eight games left in the head-to-head matchups.

Last time the squads met, the Royals washed the Railers with a 2-1 overtime win on Wednesday. John Muse made 32 saves, James de Haas scored two points (1g, 1a) and Matt Willows tallied the overtime goal. Worcester’s Woody Hudson scored with 52 seconds left in the third to even the game.

Goulbourne up with the Flyers
Former Reading Royals forward Tyrell Goulbourne was recalled to the Philadelphia Flyers from Lehigh Valley Wednesday and the Flyers have a Saturday matchup vs. St Louis. Should he crack the lineup, he’d become the first former Royals player to make the Flyers since the team became affiliated with Philadelphia in 2014. Thirty-two former Royals have played in the NHL, most recently Stanislav Galiev in Apr. 2015.

In 34 games this season with Lehigh Valley, Goulbourne has six goals, 11 points and 38 penalty minutes.

Scouting Worcester
The Railers snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-3 shootout win against Adirondack on Friday. Worcester travelled through the east-coast snowstorm on Thursday to get to the game.

The squad is without defenseman Pat McNally, who left the team earlier in the week to play in Sweden. McNally topped the Railers with 12 goals before electing to play overseas.

Former Royals forward Barry Almeida is the active club leader with 20 points (8g). Woody Hudson has 12 goals and no assists this season, tied for most on the squad. Yanick Turcotte leads all rookies with 104 PIMs and 10 major penalties this season. He has yet to spar against the Royals.

Eamon McAdam is a native of Perkasie, PA and has a 7-7-3-2 record (2.88 GAA, .910 sv%). Mitch Gillam has a 6-6-0-0 record, 2.59 GAA and .903 save percentage.

The Railers are coached by Jamie Russell, the former head man of the Elmira Jackals (2014-16). Russell also was an assistant coach at Providence and Michigan Tech Head Coach from 2003-11. Russell also played collegiately at Michigan Tech.

Head-to-head meetings
The Royals have won consecutive meetings against the Railers and the series is tied, 3-3. Reading dropped the first two games of the series in Worcester. Saturday’s meeting is the second time the Railers visit Santander Arena. In the first home game, the Royals lit up the Railers, 6-2. Chris McCarthy and Matt Willows each had three points (1g, 2a).

Reading has outscored the Railers, 15-10, in the series.

Mark Naclerio and Willows have two goals and five points in the series.

Four of Woody Hudson’s 12 goals have been against the Royals.

John Muse has surrendered five goals in three starts against Worcester and holds a 2-1-0-0 record. Mark Dekanich is 1-2-0-0 in three appearances (2.05 GAA, .928 sv%).

Worcester’s Mitch Gillam shut out the Royals Dec. 20 and has stopped 59 of 61 shots against Reading in three appearances (2-0-0-0 record). The Railers pulled Eamon McAdam after two periods Dec. 28 when the Penn State graduate allowed five goals on 23 shots. He has given up 11 goals in four starts against Reading.

Dollar Dogs and Postgame skate Jan. 7
Sun., Jan 7 vs. WOR at 4 p.m.: Dollar dog day presented by Safe Berks, Berks Packing and Coca-Cola, and a postgame skate presented by Body Zone.

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F Tyrell Goulbourne becomes 1st former Royal to play for Flyers

January 6, 2018, 10:42 am

≫ Next: Reading falls to Worcester, 3-2

≪ Previous: Game 35 Preview: Worcester at Reading

32 Reading alumni have reached NHL

Reading, PA – Former Reading Royals forward Tyrell Goulbourne made his NHL debut for the Philadelphia Flyers Saturday against the St. Louis Blues and became the first former Royals standout to play for the Flyers since the team became affiliated with Philadelphia in 2014. Thirty-two former Royals have made the NHL, most recently Stanislav Galiev in Apr. 2015.

In 34 games this season with Lehigh Valley, Goulbourne has six goals, 11 points and 38 penalty minutes. The Flyers recalled the 23-year-old from Lehigh Valley on Wed., Jan. 3.

Goulbourne skated in 36 games with Reading last season, scoring eight goals and 19 points. He made his Reading debut on Nov. 18, 2016 against Manchester. He recorded four multi-point games and five fighting majors. Four of his fights thrilled the home crowd at Santander Arena. Goulbourne is a native of Edmonton, AB.

In 131 AHL games, Goulbourne registered 14 goals, 29 points and 137 PIM.

A third-round selection by Philadelphia in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Goulbourne played for the Kelowna Rockets (WHL) for four full seasons, plus parts of the 2009-10 and 2010-11 campaigns. Goulbourne accrued 60 goals, 125 points and 461 PIM in 275 major junior games and won the 2015 WHL Championship with Kelowna. He joined the professional ranks in 2015-16 with Lehigh Valley.

The Royals became Philadelphia’s ECHL affiliate at the start of the 2014-15 season. Notable former Royals to make the NHL include G Jonathan Quick, G Philipp Grubauer, D Derek Engelland and G James Reimer.

With Goulbourne’s debut, 636 former ECHL players have played in the NHL. Thirteen have made their debuts this season.

The Royals are at home on Sat., Jan. 6 at 7:00 p.m. against Worcester. Reading plays the Railers twice to finish the weekend. Saturday’s game is Mental Health Night, presented by the Berks County Office Of Mental Health And Developmental Disabilities.

Dollar Dogs and Postgame skate Jan. 7
Sun., Jan 7 vs. WOR at 4 p.m.: Dollar dog day presented by Safe Berks, Berks Packing and Coca-Cola, and a postgame skate presented by Body Zone.

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Reading falls to Worcester, 3-2

January 6, 2018, 6:56 pm

≫ Next: Game 36 Preview: Worcester at Reading

≪ Previous: F Tyrell Goulbourne becomes 1st former Royal to play for Flyers

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals dropped the first of three-consecutive games against the Worcester Railers, 3-2, in front of the largest crowd of the season at Santander Arena (5,902). Jeff Kubiak scored with 22 seconds left for Worcester and the Railers scored two in the final 5:02 to defeat Reading (18-15-2-0, 38 pts.). Ryan Penny scored his tenth of the season and 100^th professional point in defeat.

Reading jumped to a 2-1 lead with 6:28 left in the third on a deflection strike from Chris McCarthy at the slot. Nolan Zajac and Frank Hora assisted. Worcester’s Matt Lane answered 1:26 later to tie the game, 2-2, seconds after a wrap-around attempt from Scott Tanski came within inches of putting the Royals up two.

Mark Dekanich lost despite 24 saves. Eamon McAdam denied 34 saves and allowed two goals for the win.

Box Score

Penny struck first, knocking in a rebound at the right post, assisted by Matias Cleland and Mark Naclerio, to take a 1-0 lead at 4:59 of the first period. Seventy-four of Penny’s 100 professional points have come in a Royals uniform. Cleland earned his first point as a Royal off the helper.

Reading held Worcester to two shots in the first period, the fewest allowed in a frame by the Royals this season.

The Railers added more pressure on netminder Mark Dekanich in the second, taking 15 shots and scoring the lone middle-frame goal at 9:17 to tie the game, 1-1. Kellen Jones scored.

McCarthy deflected a slap shot from Zajac past netminder Eamon McAdam to take a 2-1 lead at 13:33 of the third.

Worcester finished off the Royals with 22 seconds left in regulation time with a goal off a wrist shot from DiChiara.

Dollar Dogs and Postgame skate Jan. 7
Sun., Jan 7 vs. WOR at 4 p.m.: Dollar dog day presented by Safe Berks, Berks Packing and Coca-Cola, and a postgame skate presented by Body Zone.

$5 Green Zone Tickets, Post-game photo and autographs Jan. 10
Wed., Jan 10 vs WOR at 7 p.m.: Post-game photo and autograph session with four players (players TBA) thanks to Rieck’s Printing.

Gym Bag giveaway on Jan. 12 vs. ADK at 7 p.m.
– First 2,000 fans receive a gym bag (Tower Health).

THON, Scout and Star Wars Night Jan. 20
Sat., Jan. 20 vs BRM at 7 p.m.: THON Night, Scout Night, and Star Wars Night. First 2,000 fans will receive a Slapshot bobblehead. The Royals will wear Star Wars jerseys.

Reading Royals Mobile App

Broadcast Coverage

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Game 36 Preview: Worcester at Reading

January 7, 2018, 6:30 am

≫ Next: Muse blanks Railers for 3-0 win

≪ Previous: Reading falls to Worcester, 3-2

Reading hits halfway mark of season with Railers rematch

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals (18-15-2-0, 38 pts., 3^rd North) have $5 Green Zone Tickets and are looking to get even with the Worcester Railers (14-13-3-2, 33 pts., 5^th North) Sunday at 4:00 p.m. after dropping a 3-2 contest Saturday at Santander Arena. The Royals host the Railers on Dollar Dog Night presented by Safe Berks, Berks Packing and Coca-Cola. Also, check out the postgame skate, presented by Body Zone. Fans can get tickets by visiting royalshockey.com, ticketmaster.com or calling 610-898-7825.

5,902 fans packed Santander Arena Saturday night, the biggest crowd of the season.

In Royals affiliation news, Tyrell Goulbourne made his NHL debut for the Flyers Saturday and became the 32^nd Reading alum to reach the NHL.

This is the second of three straight games against the Railers. All the games are at Santander Arena and Worcester holds the series edge, 4-3. The Royals have won two of the last three meetings with the Railers.

After Sunday, the Royals have two home games next week. Wed., Jan. 10 against Worcester at 7:00 p.m., the Royals are home for postgame autographs with four players, presented by Rieck’s Printing. It’s also another $5 Green Zone ticket game.

Penny 100
Ryan Penny scored for the second straight game and recorded his 100^th professional point in Saturday’s contest against Worcester. He scored 25 goals last season and has ten this campaign. Seventy-four of his 100 points have come with Reading.

A 23-year-old from Fall River, Nova Scotia, Penny is in his second full season with Reading. He started his career with Evansville (ECHL) and Binghamton (AHL) in 2015-16.

Prior to his professional career, Penny skated for Moncton and Rouyn-Noranda in the QMJHL. His final junior season, he recorded 32 goals and 68 points, both bests for his major-junior career.

Goulbourne debuts
Former Reading Royals forward Tyrell Goulbourne made his NHL debut Saturday in the Flyers’ 6-3 win over the St. Louis Blues, becoming the first former Royals player to make the Flyers since the team became affiliated with Philadelphia in 2014. Thirty-two former Royals have played in the NHL and Goulbourne was the first to make it since Stanislav Galiev in Apr. 2015.

He was a plus-one rating and recorded 5:23 of ice time in his debut.

In 34 games this season with Lehigh Valley, Goulbourne has six goals, 11 points and 38 penalty minutes. Goulbourne skated in 36 games with Reading last season, scoring eight goals and 19 points. He made his Reading debut on Nov. 18, 2016 against Manchester. He recorded four multi-point games and five fighting majors.

Royals start strong
The Royals can attribute much of their success to getting on the board early, ranking fourth in the ECHL with 37 goals scored in the first. Worcester, in contrast, is last with 18 first-period goals this season.

Saturday’s game supported the stats as Ryan Penny opened up scoring for the Royals in the first period and the Railers were held scoreless.

The Royals have scored first in 23 games this season, second in the league to Colorado (24).

First-Year Coaches
Both Royals Head Coach Kirk MacDonald and Worcester Head Coach Jamie Russell are in their first seasons coaching their clubs. MacDonald was named full-time head man in May 2017. He first appeared with the Royals in July of 2014 as an assistant under Larry Courville

He multiple seasons in the American Hockey League, playing for the Albany, Providence, and Iowa. MacDonald sported a Royals jersey for the first time during the 2008-09 season and returned in 2012-13 to win the Kelly Cup.

After clinching the Cup, MacDonald served as assistant coach to his collegiate alma mater Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York during the 2013-14 season.

Russell was named Railers head man in 2016 after spending two seasons coaching the now-defunct Elmira Jackets of the ECHL (2014-16). Russell also spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Providence College. He began his coaching career in the 1994-95 season as an assistant coach for Ferris State University.

His first head coaching gig came during the 2003-04 season at Michigan Tech where he spent a total of eight seasons and coached 304 games.

Dollar Dogs and Postgame skate Jan. 7
Sun., Jan 7 vs. WOR at 4 p.m.: Dollar dog day presented by Safe Berks, Berks Packing and Coca-Cola, and a postgame skate presented by Body Zone.

$5 Green Zone Tickets, Post-game photo and autographs Jan. 10
Wed., Jan 10 vs WOR at 7 p.m.: Post-game photo and autograph session with four players (players TBA) thanks to Rieck’s Printing.

Gym Bag giveaway on Jan. 12 vs. ADK at 7 p.m.
– First 2,000 fans receive a gym bag (Tower Health).

THON, Scout and Star Wars Night Jan. 20
Sat., Jan. 20 vs BRM at 7 p.m.:THON, Scout, and Star Wars night. First 2,000 fans will receive a Slapshot bobblehead. Star Wars jerseys.

↧

Muse blanks Railers for 3-0 win

January 7, 2018, 4:05 pm

≫ Next: Battle of the Badges Press Conference Thurs., Jan. 11 at 2:00 p.m.

≪ Previous: Game 36 Preview: Worcester at Reading

Goaltender has won six straight games

Reading, PA – Reading Royals goaltender John Muse made 28 saves and recorded his second shutout of the season in a 3-0 win over the Worcester Railers Sunday at Santander Arena. Ryan Penny scored twice and Chris McCarthy had the game-winning goal 1:18 into the first.

After recording five saves in the first period, Muse registered 14 in the second. Worcester applied nine shots in the third frame, all shuttered aside by Muse for his sixth straight win. Since returning from Lehigh Valley (AHL) on Dec. 28, Muse is 5-0-0-0 with a 1.59 goals against average and .955 save percentage. He’s 9-1-0-0 at home this season and 11-3-1-0 overall. Mitch Gillam lost his first game against the Royals (2-1-0-0) and made 25 saves.

The Royals scored two goals in the first period. Penny scored in the final two minutes of the frame and added another in the opening half of the third. He has twelve goals this season and strikes in three straight games (4g). It’s the third time in his career he has tallied goals in three straight. McCarthy also tallied in all three contests this weekend.

Reading plays the final two games of its five-game home stand next week, starting Wednesday with a third straight matchup against the Railers at 7:00 p.m.

Box Score

McCarthy ripped a power-play goal from the left face-off circle past the netminder Gillam to take the 1-0 lead at 1:18 of the opening frame. Matt Willows and Nick Luukko were given the helpers and Willows recorded his 30^th point this season, becoming the first Royal to break 30 points this season.

The second goal of the night surprised Gillam as Scott Tanski threw up a high-flying pass which dropped into the offensive zone. Penny out-fought the defenseman and quickly flicked it top shelf to make it a 2-0 game at 18:52 of the first.

The Royals killed off two Worcester power-play chances in the game. The Railers are 0-for-21 in the season series against the Royals. Reading’s man up was 1-for-3.

Reading earned more insurance 5:10 into the third to take a 3-0 edge. Penny attempted to settle a pass from Mark Naclerio in front of the net and batted the puck over the goal line for a 3-0 lead and his second of the night. Naclerio received the lone assist on the final goal.

Dollar Dogs and Postgame skate Jan. 7
Sun., Jan 7 vs. WOR at 4 p.m.: Dollar dog day presented by Safe Berks, Berks Packing and Coca-Cola, and a postgame skate presented by Body Zone.

$5 Green Zone Tickets, Post-game photo and autographs Jan. 10
Wed., Jan 10 vs WOR at 7 p.m.: Post-game photo and autograph session with four players (players TBA) thanks to Rieck’s Printing.

Gym Bag giveaway on Jan. 12 vs. ADK at 7 p.m.
– First 2,000 fans receive a gym bag (Tower Health).