ECHL Reading Royals

Royal Review

Published on February 10, 2003 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Sher-Wood Player Of The Week Nomination: Richard Seeley

Defenseman Richard Seeley collected a point in each of the Monarchs three games last week, helping the team to a 1-1-1-0 record. The 23-year-old native of Powell River, British Columbia, has scored in a season high four straight games. Drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the sixth round (137th overall) of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, Seeley has collected three of his four goals this season during his current streak.

Feb. 5 vs. Manitoba: 0-1-1, 0 PIM, 0 Shots, Plus-1
Feb. 7 vs. Manitoba: 1-0-1, 5 PIM, 1 Shot, Even
Feb. 8 vs. Providence: 1-0-1, 2 PIM, 1 Shot, Minus-1
Totals: 2-1-3, 7 PIM, 2 Shots, Even

Monarchs Notables: Last result: 3-2 loss vs. Providence, February 8

Record: 28-12-6-3, 65 points
Streak: Lost 1
Next game: February 12 vs. Portland
Defenseman Jason Holland, recalled by the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday, recorded his first Monarchs goal this season vs. the Providence Bruins on Saturday...Holland, a 26-year-old native of Morinville, Alberta, ranks third on the Monarchs in defensemen scoring with 19 points (1-18=19) in 44 games...The Kings on Sunday also recalled Chris Schmidt (12-10=22)...The 26-year-old native of Beaver Lodge, Alberta, collected an assist in Saturday's game vs. the Bruins...Schmidt leads the Monarchs with 49 games played this season...Both Holland and Schmidt were recalled by the Kings earlier this season but neither appeared in a Kings game...Holland, originally drafted by the New York Islanders in the second round (38th overall) of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, has two points (1-1=2) in 27 career NHL games with the Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, and the Kings...Schmidt, selected by the Kings in the fifth round (111th overall) of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, has yet to appear in an NHL game...Monarchs captain Dane Jackson played in career game number 700 on Friday vs. the Manitoba Moose...The durable 11-year vet has missed just one game for the Monarchs this season...Jackson, who captained the Calder Cup Champion Rochester Americans during the 1995-96 season, has 198 career AHL goals...The Monarchs established a new season high for penalty minutes in a game with 75 vs. the Moose on Friday...The Monarchs previous high was 50 penalty minutes vs. the Worcester IceCats on November 29, 2002...The Monarchs and the Moose combined for 128 minutes in penalties, with all but 19 of the minutes assessed in the third period...Defenseman Joe Rullier's 29 penalty minutes in Friday's game established a new Monarchs season high for individual penalty minutes in one game...The Monarchs were 18-0-1-1 in games where they took a lead into the third period before Saturday's result against the Providence Bruins...The Bruins recorded two third period goals, including the game-winner with just 27 seconds left in regulation, to beat the Monarchs 3-2...The Monarchs have scored the first goal in 10 straight home games...Their record in the 10 games is 6-2-2-0... Defenseman Chris Aldous, drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the 10th round (252nd overall) of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, appeared in his 300th professional game on Wednesday vs. the Manitoba Moose...Defenseman Richard Seeley, selected by the Kings in the sixth round (137th overall) of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, appeared in his 200th professional game on Wednesday...Derek Bekar and Rullier each played for the Monarchs on Wednesday after missing time because of injuries...Bekar, out since December 15 (18 games missed) scored his fifth goal in Wednesday's game...Bekar also equaled a Monarchs season high for shots on goal in a game with eight...Rullier had been out of the Monarchs lineup since January 12 (eight games missed).

Kings Notables:

Last result: 3-1 loss at Dallas, February 9 Record: 22-25-4-4, 52 points Streak: Lost 1 Next game: February 11 at Nashville

Mike Modano tallied two goals to lead Dallas over Los Angeles, 3-1, at American Airlines Center on Sunday...Rob DiMaio also lit the lamp for the Stars, who extended their unbeaten streak to six games (5-0-1)...Derek Armstrong, who has two goals and six assists in his last nine games, scored the sole goal for the Kings, who had a three-game win streak snapped...Bryan Smolinski's four-game point streak also came to an end...The Kings lost for just the third time this season when leading after the first period...Rookie Jared Aulin notched two goals and three points vs. the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday, leading the Kings to an 8-2 win...Smolinski had a hat trick in the same game...Defenseman Joe Corvo also scored for the Kings on Friday.

Monarchs currently on recall with the Kings:
Player Kings Stats
Joe Corvo, D: 27 games (4-2=6)
Michael Cammalleri, C: 28 games (5-3=8)
Derek Armstrong, C: 39 games (7-13=20)
Jared Aulin, C: 17 games (2-2=4)
Kip Brennan, W: 15 games (0-0=0, 45 PIM)
Steve Heinze, W: 20 games (3-6=9)
Scott Barney, W: 5 games (0-0=0)
Cristobal Huet, G: 0 games

Week 18 Transactions:

02/09/03 Delete Jason Holland (D) and Chris Schmidt (C) recalled by Los Angeles (NHL)
02/07/03 Add Ryan Flinn (LW) assigned to Manchester (AHL)
02/04/03 Delete Jared Aulin (C), Scott Barney (C), Ryan Flinn (W) and Joe Corvo (D) recalled by Los Angeles (NHL)
02/04/03 Add Greg Koehler (C) acquired by Los Angeles (NHL) from Nashville (NHL) for future considerations. Assigned to Manchester (AHL)
02/04/03 Add B. J. Boxma (G) recalled by Manchester from Long Beach (WCHL)
02/04/03 Add Brandon Dietrich (C) recalled by Manchester from Reading (ECHL)
02/03/03 Delete Cristobal Huet (G) recalled by Los Angeles (NHL)

Week 18 Recap...

Providence 3, Manchester 2, Saturday, February 8: MANCHESTER, New Hampshire - Chris Kelleher's goal with just 27 seconds left in regulation enabled the Providence Bruins to escape with a 3-2 North Division win over the Manchester Monarchs before a sellout crowd of 9,893 on Saturday night at the Verizon Wireless Arena. The Bruins victory snapped a Monarchs three-game unbeaten streak. The Bruins, who increased their division lead over the Monarchs to eight points with the win, have beaten the Monarchs in three straight games. Defenseman Kelleher's game-winner stunned the Monarchs, who entered Saturday's play with an 18-0-1-1 record in games this season where they had a lead going into the third period. Kelleher's unassisted goal was his sixth of the season. Ivan Huml's backhander from close range drew the Bruins even with the Monarchs at 2:19 of the final period. Goaltender Tim Thomas improved his record to 4-0-1 vs. the Monarchs this season with a solid 31 save performance. The Monarchs Travis Scott fell to 1-3-0 against the Bruins this season despite 34 saves, including 13 in the final period.

The two teams combined to produce eight power plays in the middle period but just one power play goal. Jeff Jillson, the former San Jose Sharks/Cleveland Barons defenseman involved in the Kyle McLaren trade of a couple of weeks ago, recorded his first goal as a Bruin and his fourth overall at 7:38 to tie the score at 1-1. Kelleher and winger Lee Goren helped on Jillson's goal, scorched from the left circle with the Bruins holding a 5-on-3 power play advantage.

The Monarchs caught a break and took advantage with their second goal, scored less than two minutes later at 9:11. Defenseman Jason Holland completed a Monarchs rush into the offensive zone just seconds after Goren fanned on a wide-open power play rebound attempt. Forwards Jerred Smithson and Chris Schmidt were credited with assists on Holland's first goal.

The Monarchs continued a recent trend of strong starts on their home ice by netting the only first period goal. Richard Seeley, suddenly a very offensive defenseman, collected his third goal in four games and his fourth overall with a power play blast from the right point at 3:07. Holland and center Greg Koehler assisted on the goal. Koehler, traded to the Los Angeles Kings from the Nashville Predators and assigned to the Monarchs on Tuesday, has points in each of his three Monarchs games. Seeley has points in four straight games. The Monarchs have scored the first goal in 10 straight home games.

The Monarchs had two excellent chances to add to their lead later in the opening period, but Thomas stopped breakaway bids from Koehler and Smithson. Koehler vaulted into the zone with each team down a man 12 minutes into the period, but Thomas kicked aside his glove side attempt. Thomas tripped up Smithson with 1:15 left in the period while the hard-hitting winger was preparing for a short-handed shot attempt in the slot.

Manchester 5, Manitoba 1, Friday, February 7: MANCHESTER, New Hampshire - The Manchester Monarchs ran their unbeaten streak to three games by defeating the Manitoba Moose, 5-1, before another sellout crowd of 9,893 fans at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Friday night. With the win, the Monarchs kept pace with the Providence Bruins, who also won Friday. After a scoreless first period, the Monarchs, aided by two power play goals, bolted out to a 3-0 lead. Eric Healey and defenseman Richard Seeley were credited with the two power play goals, scored on Moose goaltender Alex Auld at 9:25 and 10:54 of the second period. Healey slammed home his 20th goal, and his 11th on the power play, after receiving a Greg Koehler centering pass at the right of the crease.

Defenseman Tomas Zizka also earned an assist on the goal, scored with the Monarchs enjoying a two-man advantage. Seeley collected his third goal of the campaign by pouncing on a rebound after Auld fought off a Koehler drive from the right circle.

Derek Bekar, who scored the Monarchs first goal of the period at 2:52, also assisted on power play goal number two. The Moose cut into the Monarchs three-goal cushion late in the period despite three point blank saves by Monarchs goaltender Travis Scott. Tyler Bouck's seventh goal, scored at 19:09, made it 3-1 Monarchs. The Bouck tally followed a mad scramble in front of the Monarchs net after it appeared as though Scott had covered the puck.

The Monarchs regained a comfortable lead early in the final period as Healey recorded his second goal of the night and team-leading 21st goal of the season at 1:41, making it 4-1. Koehler and East Coast Hockey League recall Brandon Dietrich also earned points on the Healey marker, his fifth in five games. Bekar's second goal, scored at 18:58 of the third period with assists to Dietrich and Dan Welch, completed the scoring in a game that turned ugly down the stretch. Several fights broke out on the ice as the final seconds ticked off the clock.

Manchester 2, Manitoba 2, Wednesday, February 5: MANCHESTER, New Hampshire - Several times in the third period the Manchester Monarchs had chances to win the game, but in the end they were forced to settle for a 2-2 tie with the Manitoba Moose on Wednesday night at the Verizon Wireless Arena. The tie earned the Monarchs another point in the North Division standings, and more importantly, it kept the team's recent hot streak on home ice intact. The Monarchs improved their record to 4-1-2-0 in their last seven games on home ice.

The Monarchs held the 18-7 shots on goal edge in the scoreless third period. They also outgunned the road-weary Moose 3-1 in the five-minute overtime session. Derek Bekar, Eric Healey, Jerred Smithson and Dan Welch all had chances to end the game in regulation, but Manitoba goaltender Alex Auld held the Monarchs off the board after allowing two first period goals. Although not tested nearly as often, Monarchs goaltender Travis Scott played solidly, allowing just two goals on 26 shots.

Bekar, out since December 15 with a broken finger, collected his fifth goal by redirecting a first period blast from defenseman Mike Pudlick past Auld on a Monarchs power play at 4:09. The Monarchs had the man-advantage after defenseman Jaroslav Obsut was assessed a penalty for kneeing Pavel Rosa. Greg Koehler, acquired by the Los Angeles Kings from the Nashville Predators for future considerations and assigned to Manchester on Tuesday, also assisted on the goal.

Justin Morrison drew the Moose even by scoring his fourth goal on a partial breakaway 10:55 into the opening stanza. Morrison, in just his fifth game with the Moose after being recalled from the Columbia Inferno of the East Coast Hockey League, would score his fifth Moose goal late in the second period.

Sandwiched between the two Morrison markers was Yanick Lehoux's 15th goal of the season. Nashua's Jeff Giuliano and defenseman Richard Seeley assisted Lehoux on the tally, registered just 31 seconds after Morrison's first goal.

Morrison's second goal, scored at 15:03 of the middle period, was much like his first as he snuck behind the Monarchs defense and completed a breakaway rush into the Monarchs zone.

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