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ECHL Reading Royals

Reading Looks for Holiday Cheer against Monarchs

January 8, 2018 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals (14-12-2-0, 30 pts., T-4th North) finish out the weekend hoping for holiday cheer at Santander Arena against the Manchester Monarchs (18-9-1-1, 38 pts., 1st North) Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Santa will be at Saturday's game it's the postgame ham shoot! Come down after the game on the ice, shoot a puck in to the net and take a holiday ham home with you. The team is off from Dec. 24-27.

Michael Huntebrinker scored Reading's two goals in a 5-2 defeat Friday. Mark Dekanich made 39 saves. Manchester's Jordan Smotherman scored two goals for the second straight game against the Royals.

Manchester leads the season series, 2-1. Goaltender Charles Williams has picked up victories in the last two games, allowing three goals on 53 shots.

After today's showdown, the Royals are home Thurs., Dec. 28 at 7:00 p.m. against the Worcester Railers with $5 Green Zone tickets. It's APHILLYation night with a player postgame autographs, courtesy of Rieck's printing.

Rookie Michael Huntebrinker recorded his first professional multi-goal game Friday, lighting the lamp twice in Reading's loss to Manchester. He has eight goals and 13 points in 21 games this season. Last season, he had four goals the entire campaign (39 GP) as a senior with Minnesota State. This is Huntebrinker's best offensive production since he recorded 18 goals and 42 points in 46 games with the USHL's Waterloo Black Hawks in 2012-13.

Huntebrinker had one multi-goal game in his collegiate career; Dec. 15, 2015 vs. Alabama-Huntsville. The native of St. Louis, MO has four points (3g, 1a) against the Monarchs this season.

Manchester joined the ECHL in 2015-16 after competing in the AHL from 2001-15 as the Kings' AHL affiliate. The Monarchs "flipped" leagues with the Ontario Reign, who became the Los Angeles' Kings top partner.

The Monarchs and Royals have both been the Kings affiliates. From 2001-05 and 2006-08, the Royals were the Kings' ECHL partner and sent players up to Manchester.

Current Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick is the most-notable standout from the Royals' and Monarchs' affiliation days. Quick played in 38 games with the Royals and ascended to Manchester for 35 before becoming an NHL regular in 2008-09.

Royals Head Coach Kirk MacDonald and Monarchs head man Richard Seeley both played for the teams they now instruct. MacDonald won the 2013 Kelly Cup with the Royals and recorded 77 points with Reading in two seasons (2008-09, 2012-13). He played professional hockey for six seasons before joining his alma mater, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, as an assistant for 2013-14. He returned as a Royals assistant from 2014-17 and was named Head Coach this offseason.

Seeley is in his third season behind the bench as Monarchs Head Coach and for Manchester (2001-04, 2005-06). He wore a leadership letter in each of his four seasons with the team and was a two-time captain. Since returning to Manchester as Head Coach, his career record is 84-57-12-10.

The Monarchs are 12-4-1-1 on the road and the Royals are 9-4-0-0 at home. Manchester is the highest-scoring team on the road (80 GF) and has allowed 54 tallies. The success has included a five-game point streak and four-game winning streak away from SNHU Arena. On the flip side, the Royals have yet to notch a winning streak on the road.

The Royals matched their best home start ever by beginning 7-0-0-0 at home. The team also tied the 2005-06 squad for the best ten-game home start ever (9-1-0-0). Manchester has heated up lately with three straight home wins after beginning the campaign 3-5-0-0 at SNHU Arena.

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