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Reading Royals

Royals Tripped by Trenton, 4-2

March 20, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals (21-39-4= 46; 7th North Division) of the ECHL scored early, but could not hold off the Trenton Devils in a 4-2 loss at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. The Royals lost their fifth consecutive game to the Devils and dropped to 3-8-2 (and 1-5-0 at the Sovereign Center) against Trenton this year. Michael Ouzas (loss, 18-20-1; 35/39) suffered his fourth consecutive loss to the Devils this year; while Gerald Coleman (win, 25-9-2, 26/28) ran his record to 5-0-1 against Reading this season. The Royals second goal was scored on the power play (1-5). Trenton scored what proved to be the game winner while playing with the man advantage (1-3).

Reading struck three minutes into the game, when newcomer Vince Rocco scored on his first shot as a pro player. Dan Rudisuela carried into the offensive end and dropped to Rocco in the mid-slot, where he ripped a snap shot that hit Coleman in the cuff of the catching glove and fluttered into the net. The Devils rang off three in a row in the early stages of the second period. First, Eric Castonguay drilled a laser from the high slot that beat Ouzas high to the glove side for his twenty-first of the year 2:22 into the period. Second, David Leaderer, who was positioned at the left side of the Royals' net, took control of a slap pass by Castonguay that ricocheted off the end wall. Leaderer took a swing at the puck and caused it to slide short-side by Ouzas for his twelfth of the season 5:01 into the second. Third, Ryan Gunderson fired a hard shot from the high slot that Trevor Kell deflected by Ouzas for his twentieth of the year 8:51 into the period.

Reading cut the Devils' lead to one (3-2) with a power play goal by Tyler Doig at the 13:26 mark of the second. After Ryan Toomey kept the play alive with two solid keeps at the left point, Rocco took control, carried deep into the slot and dished to Ben Gordon at the left side of the net. Gordon slid a perfect cross-ice pass back into the right circle where Doig fired a one-timer for his thirteenth of the year. The Devils regained the two goal lead 2:45 into the third, when Jim Henkel fired a wrist shot that popped out of Ouzas' catching glove causing a mad scramble for the rebound that ended when the puck appeared to hit a Royals' defender in the skate and end up in the net. Although the Royals continued to battle down the stretch, the Devils closed them out with smart and controlled team play down the stretch.

The Royals travel to Wheeling, West Virginia to take on the Wheeling Nailers tomorrow (Saturday, March 21 @ 7:35 pm) at WesBanco Arena. Saturday's game will be broadcast live on the Royals Radio Network Presented by Transmissions by Arbogast (True Oldies WRAW 1340 am in Reading; and The Ticket WLAN 1390 am in Lancaster), as well as on the internet via webcast hosted by Sportsjuice.com, which can be accessed through the Royals website. To become a part of Royals hockey, call 610-898-PUCK or log onto www.royalshockey.com.

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