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ECHL Reading Royals

Boosted Royals Bounce Back With Win Over Cincinnati, 5-3

January 13, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals (20-15-3=43, 3rd North Division) of the ECHL, playing the team's seventh game in the last ten days, got a decided boost from three players assigned today from the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League and beat the Cincinnati Cyclones, 5-3, at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. Defenseman Jeff Likens and forwards Peter Kanko and Vladimir Dravecky provided a much needed spark and jump as the Royals snapped a five game home winless streak by the defeating the Cyclones for the first time in three tries at the Sovereign Center. Goaltender Jon Quick (12-9-2; 25/28) returned to action and was solid in picking up his second win this year against Cincinnati; while Dov Grumet-Morris (14-3-1; 33/38) took his first regulation loss since November 4-a span during which he was unbeaten in thirteen consecutive games (12-0-1).

Cincinnati struck on their first power play opportunity of the game 3:24 after the opening face-off. After a mad scramble in front of the Royals' goal, Jason Deitsch settled the puck at the left side of the net and slipped a backhander behind Quick for his third goal of the season-all of the which have been scored against the Royals. Reading tied the game at one 11:39 into the first period, when Kevin Saurette took control between the hash-marks and fired a snap shot on goal that hit Grumet-Morris in the upper body, fluttered above him, and then fell through his left side and into the net. For Saurette, that was his fourth goal of the year.

The Cyclones regained the lead at 2-1 14:05 into the first period, on their second full power play chance of the game. Defenseman Gerard Miller fed David Deshairnais below the goal line at the right side of the Royals' goal. Deshairnias dished to Matt Syroczynksi, who was unguarded in front of the goal, and Syroczynski made it look easy as he slipped the puck behind Quick for his eleventh goal of the year. Again, the Royals bounced back to tie things at two with just two minutes remaining in the first. Dravecky forced a turnover in the offensive zone with a strong fore-check, and Charlie Kronschnabel took control and fed Dany Roussin in the left circle. Roussin's quick snap shot hit the left pipe and ricocheted into the goal for his eleventh goal of the season.

Reading took the team's first lead of the game 20 seconds into the second with a power play goal. Right off the face-off to start play in the second period, Brock Hooton carried deep on the right wing side and slid a beautiful pass to the left side of the crease, where Roussin had slipped in through the back-door to pick up his second of the game. Cincinnati bounced right back to tie the game 37 seconds later when Shawn Futers sent one from behind the net to the top of the crease where it hit a Reading defender, who simultaneously went tumbling into Quick and forced the puck in, giving Futers his first goal of the year. 1:02 after that the Royals got what proved to be the game winner when Larry Courville won an offensive zone face-off to P.J. Atherton at the right point. Atherton fired a wrister that eluded everyone including Grumet-Morris for his ninth goal of the year. Reading got some insurance 13:33 into the second after an aggressive fore-check created a scoring opportunity. Kevin Saurette stole deep in the offensive zone, floated into the right circle, and fired a shot, which Grumet-Morris stopped; but Hooton corralled the rebound and tapped in from the left side of the crease for his thirteenth goal of the year. The Royals closed out the remainder of the game with a simple, smart, defense-first style that seemed particularly confident thanks, at least in part, to the solid skills of the players assigned on this day from Manchester.

The Royals return to action on Friday night (7:30 pm) against the Trenton Devils at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, New Jersey. The game night broadcast on Saturday will begin at 7:00 pm with the pre-game warm-up show on ESPN Radio 1240 am in Ephrata, as well as on the internet through the Royals' website, www.royalshockey.com. Streaming video is available on a pay per view basis through the B2 Networks.

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