ECHL Reading Royals

Reading eaks out a point against elite in Northern Division

Published on March 8, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


The Reading Royals posted a 0-2-1 record at home in the 21st week of the season. Reading battled Johnstown in the Sovereign Center on Wednesday night. The Chiefs built a 4-1 lead early in the third period and held on to defeat the Royals, 4-3. The Royals hosted the Wheeling Nailers on Saturday night for just the second time this season. Wheeling entered the game as one of just two teams to beat Reading in the Sovereign Center in regulation. The Nailers tied the game at three with just over 3-minutes to play and prevailed in the overtime shootout, 4-3. The Royals were back on home ice just hours later with a Sunday matinee game against the defending Kelly Cup Champion, Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies. The Bullies became the first team to shutout out the Royals with a 3-0 victory. The loss extended the Royals winless streak to a season high five games (0-3-2).

With 13 games remaining in the season, the Royals quest for their first Kelly Cup playoff appearance continues this week with three games in the Sovereign Center. The Royals battle the Wheeling Nailers on Tuesday night for their seventh meeting of the season. Blue Ball National Bank is handing out Royals seat cushions to the first 2,000 fans through the gate. Reading hosts Johnstown for the fifth of six meetings in the Sovereign Center on Friday night. The Chiefs became the first road team to win in this series on Wednesday, March 3. The Royals finish the week on Saturday against the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies. LAST WEEK

Wednesday, March 3 vs. Johnstown Sovereign Center 7:05PM

GAME NOTES: Despite a late flurry, Reading lost to its division rival Johnstown, 4-3. The Royals trailed 4-1 in the third period, before mounting a comeback that fell just short. Forwards Kent Davyduke, Lars Pettersen, and Peter Hay tallied for Reading, who was defeated in regulation play at home for only the second time this season. With the loss, the Royals fell to 3-5-0 versus the Chiefs this year.

Saturday, March 6 vs. Wheeling Sovereign Center 7:05PM

GAME NOTES: The Royals earned a point, taking the ECHL's top team to a shootout, before falling, 4-3 to the Wheeling Nailers. Ian Turner, Kent Davyduke, and Peter Hay scored for Reading, as the Royals moved to 0-3-3 against Wheeling this year. Peter Hamerlik remained unbeaten in his last 10 starts (7-0-3), stopping 28 shots in the contest.

Sunday, March 7 vs. Atlantic City Sovereign Center 1:05PM

GAME NOTES: The defending Kelly Cup champions peppered Royals' goaltender Peter Hamerlik with 43 shots, en-route to a 3-0 blanking of their Northern Division rival. It was the first time this season Reading was shutout at home. Atlantic City notched two, first period tallies, including a power play goal, both coming off the stick of Luke Curtin. Scott Stirling stopped 34 shots for the Boardwalk Bulllies, recording his third shutout of the season and 28th win of the year.

THIS WEEK

Tuesday, March 9 vs. Wheeling Sovereign Center 7:05PM

GAME NOTES: This is the second meeting between the Royals and Nailers in four days. Reading is winless against Wheeling in six tries posting a 0-3-3 record. The Nailers edged the Royals last Saturday 4-3 in a shootout. Wheeling beat Reading, 2-1, back on October 31 in their only other meeting in the Sovereign Center.

Friday, March 12 vs. Johnstown Sovereign Center 7:05PM

GAME NOTES: Johnstown became the first team to win in the season series on the road with their 4-3 regulation win. Reading has posted a 3-5-0 record against the Chiefs this season. Reading and Johnstown meet one more time in the battle for the Keystone Cup on April 2 in the Sovereign Center.

Saturday, March 13 vs. Atlantic City Sovereign Center 7:05PM

GAME NOTES: Reading and Atlantic City meet for the ninth of ten meetings this season. Atlantic City became the first team to shutout Reading in the Sovereign Center last Sunday, 3-0. The Royals have posted a 1-1-1 record versus the Bullies at home, while going 1-3-1 in Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. The Bullies and Royals will meet one more time in the Sovereign Center on Sunday, March 28.

ECHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE:
#18 Kent Davyduke 3GP TEAM RECORD: 0-2-1 STATS: 2-1-3 (+3) - leads team (+23)
Kent Davyduke was the only even or better players in all three games for Reading this week. Despite the team going 0-2-1 this week, the Wisconsin Badger grad tallied two goals and an assist and was plus 3 for the week. He registered his 23rd and team leading 24th goal of the season against Johnstown and Wheeling, respectively.
KENT DAVYDUKE 6'1" 205LBS HOMETOWN: SASKATOON, SK DOB: 8-10-79
LAST YEAR: TRENTON/MISSISSIPPI (ECHL) / HERSHEY/MANCHESTER (AHL)
AMATEUR CLUB: WISCONSIN (WCHA)

ECHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE:
#1 Peter Hamerlik 3GP RECORD: 0-1-1 GAA: 2.89 SPCT: .920% TEAM RECORD: 0-2-1
Peter Hamerlik lost for the first time in regulation in ten outings on Sunday versus Atlantic City, despite stopping 40 shots. Hamerlik was beaten by Wheeling 4-3 in a shootout Saturday, posting 28 saves against the Nailers.
PETER HAMERLIK 6'1" 190LBS
HOMETOWN: MYJAVA, SLOVAKIA DOB: 1-2-82
LAST YEAR: KINGSTON (OHL)/ CINCINNATI (ECHL) AMATEUR CLUB: KINGSTON (OHL)
DRAFT STATUS: 2002-BOSTON BRUINS – 5TH ROUND, 153RD OVERALL

TEAM STREAKS:
· Reading has the ECHL's best home mark (21-3-4)
· The Royals lost twice in regulation at home this week after losing just once in their first 25 games
· Royals rank 5th on the power play (20.6%) and 6th on the penalty kill (86.2%) in the ECHL
· Reading ranks 4th in GAA in the ECHL (2.53)
· Royals are 24-0-3 when leading after two periods
· The Royals are 5-0-0 in two-goal games at home while posting an 0-8-0 record in two-goal games on the road
· Reading ranks 2nd in the ECHL in attendance (5,396 per game)

PLAYER STREAKS:
· #18 Forward Kent Davyduke has scored a goal in 7 of the last 11 games (9-4-13)...He leads the club in +/- (23)
· #16 Forward Peter Hay leads Reading and is tied for 1st among ECHL rookies with 6 game-winning goals
· #1 Goaltender Peter Hamerlik unbeaten streak in regulation ended this week (1/25-3/6)...Hamerlik had not lost until this Sunday in regulation in the past ten games (7-0-3)...He was named the Sun National Bank ECHL Saver of the Month for February

IN THE COMMUNITY: The Royals face off at Casa Grande each week during the season with Royals Weekly and Royals Roundtable. Royals Weekly can be heard live on ESPN Radio, 1240AM from Casa Grande from 6-7 p.m. The taping of Royals Roundtable follows after Royals Weekly from 7-8 p.m. This week's guests include: Defenseman #1 Peter Hamerlik and defenseman #17 Ian Turner and Bob Miller, the voice of the Los Angeles Kings. Your calls are welcome at the show by dialing 866-ROY-ALS3!. FREE PRIZES ARE GIVEN AWAY TO THOSE WHO ATTEND FROM THE CINEMA CENTER OF READING, SCREPESI'S DELI, SUPERCUTS, HOLLYWOOD VIDEO, BOWL-O-RAMA, SENOR TACO, LABATT BLUE AND MORE!

Wednesday 3/10/04 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM @ VIVA Good Life Bistro & Lounge ROYALS CHARITIES LUNCHEON #15 Graig Mischler & #16 Peter Hay

Wednesday 3/10/04 6 PM - 8 PM @ Fairgrounds Square Mall AUTOGRAPH SESSION #1 Peter Hamerlik & #22 Eric Lind

Thursday 3/11/04 3 PM - 5 PM @ Redner's in Douglasville AUTOGRAPH SESSION #51 Scooter Smith & #4 Reagan Rome

Suday 3/14/04 2 PM - 4 PM @ Cinema Center AUTOGRAPH SESSION #24 Chris Lynch & #22 Eric Lind

TRANSACTIONS:
3/02/2004 Add TERRY DENIKE (G) assigned by Manchester(AHL)
3/03/2004 Add TOMAS SLOVAK (D) assigned by Hershey (AHL)
3/06/2004 Add LEON HAYWARD (RW) assigned by Manchester (AHL)
3/06/2004 Add DOUG MACIVER (D) traded from Peoria
3/07/2004 Delete CODY RUDKOWSKY (G) recalled to Worcester (AHL)
3/08/2004 Delete LEON HAYWARD (F) recalled to Manchester (AHL)

TICKETS AND INFORMATION: The Reading Royals Box Office is open from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Sovereign Center. Individual tickets can be purchased at the Sovereign Center Box Office or at any TicketMaster location. To order tickets by phone, call 215-336-2000. To book a group to a Royals home game call 610-898-7825.

ROYALS ON THE AIRWAVES: All Reading Royals games, home and away, are broadcast on ESPN Radio, 1240AM and on the Royals website at www.royalshockey.com via Sportsjuice. Join the voice of the Royals, John Curtis for all the play-by-play action. The pre-game show comes your way approximately 25 minutes before the drop of the puck.

Check out the Reading Royals Statistics

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ECHL Stories from March 8, 2004


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