ECHL Reading Royals

Royals and Railers Duel on Autism Awareness Night

Published on March 24, 2018 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals (34-23-8-0, 76 pts., 3rd North) finish the weekend with specialty jerseys on Autism Awareness Night Saturday vs. the Worcester Railers (31-25-4-4, 70 pts., 5th North) at 7:00 p.m. Purchase tickets here.

The Royals will hand out a one-time-only giveaway: a puck with Head Coach Kirk MacDonald and Assistant Coach Pat Wellar to commemorate the 5th anniversary of Reading winning the Kelly Cup, presented by Tower Health.

View the specialty jerseys | See the specialty pucks

Reading is coming off a 4-1 loss to Worcester Friday. The Royals are two points ahead of Wheeling for third in the North Division. Worcester is four points back of the fourth and final North playoff spot.

The Royals have hosted Autism Awareness Night for four years, supporting the Autism Society of Berks County and Unending Promise. Reading has five more home games this regular season.

The Railers have tied a season-long six-game point streak (5-0-0-1). Since the last meeting between the clubs on Feb. 22, Worcester is 8-3-0-1 (36 GF, 25 GA).

Reading and the Railers each have six wins through the first 12 games of the season. At Santander Arena, the Royals are 4-2-0-0 against the Railers.

Killing them again - Willows vs. the North

Matt Willows has 67 points this season and 52 have been against North Division foes. He leads the Royals in points outright against three of the five opponents - Adirondack (13), Wheeling (13), and Brampton (9). He is tied for a team-high five points against Manchester and 12 against Worcester.

Three of Willows' team-high five game-winning goals have been against the North, including an overtime strike vs. Worcester Jan. 3. Of his 23 multi-point efforts, 15 have been against North opponents. Willows has 29 goals this season and 21 have been against Adirondack, Worcester, Brampton, Wheeling and Manchester.

Against the Railers, Willows has five goals and four multi-point games.

Here's the breakdown:

Adirondack: 4g, 9a, 2 GWG, 3 multi-point games

Worcester: 5g, 7a, 1 GWG, 4 multi-point games

Brampton: 2g, 7a, 3 multi-point games

Wheeling: 7g, 6a, 4 multi-point games

Manchester: 3g, 2a 1 multi-point game

Former Sharks

Matt Willows and Adam Schmidt are former Worcester Sharks, the team that played at the DCU Center until 2015. Willows skated for the Sharks after completing his NCAA career at New Hampshire and had three goals and five points in his first 11 professional games. The rookie used that experience going into his first full professional season and was named ECHL Rookie of the Year the next year with Florida in 2015-16.

Schmidt beat Willows to Worcester by a season; Schmidt completed his senior season in town at Holy Cross and then joined the Sharks (1g, 2a in 14 GP).

Magic 57 - Saturday

The Railers and Royals each play 57 games against the North Division, the most of any team in the North. Worcester has eight straight games against the North to finish the season. Reading has the most divisional wins of its five most-common opponents (28-20-4-0) and finishes the campaign with five of seven vs. the North.

Worcester is 24-19-3-3 vs. the North this season.

Postgame photo and autograph session, Wed., Mar. 28 vs. MAN at 7:00 p.m.

Join us after the game for a postgame photo autograph session with four players, thanks to Rieck's printing.

Pucks N' Paws Night, Fri., Mar. 30 vs. MAN at 7:00 p.m.

The first 2,500 fans receive a Royals team picture. It's also Pucks 'N Paws Night and Wiener Dog Races. There will be a special puck drop and a team poster giveaway, courtesy of Tower Health and Rieck's Printing. It's also Girl Scout Night, benefitting Eastern PA Girl Scouts.

2018-19 season tickets now available

Top full-season benefits include: exclusive Reading Hockey Club per seat gift, discounted rate off regular ticket prices, ticket exchange, preseason meet and greet, exclusive season ticket holder events, advanced entry and a chance to win and the Royals Owner's Suite for a game. Call 610-898-7825 and visit to join the Royals family or renew season tickets for the 2018-19 season. Visit royalshockey.com/tickets/season-tickets to learn more.

Check out the Reading Royals Statistics

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