ECHL Reading Royals

Royals break out of slump with two wins, but falter in Trenton

Published on March 22, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


The Reading Royals posted a 2-2-0 mark this week to fall into sixth place in the Northern Division. The Royals trail the Trenton Titans for the final playoff spot in the Northern Division. Reading began the four game week hosting the Peoria Rivermen at home in the Sovereign Center. The Royals ended their seven game home stand in style, winning 4-3 in a shootout. Reading traveled to Toledo on St. Patrick's Day and gutted out a 2-1 victory over the Storm in the Sports Arena. The Royals then traveled to Trenton for a pair of games on Friday and Saturday versus the Titans. In a close battle on Friday, the Titans edged the Royals 2-1 in regulation. Saturday, Reading was blanked for the sixth time this season, losing 5-0.

The Royals play four games again this week. Reading returns home on Tuesday night to tangle with the Wheeling Nailers for the seventh time this season. The game is presented by Performance Toyota. Reading returns to the road on Friday to battle the Cincinnati Cyclones for the final time this season. Saturday, the Royals and Nailers will meet for the second time during the week. It is the final meeting of the season between these two clubs. Reading finishes the week at home against Atlantic City on Sunday at 5:05 p.m.. Comcast is handing out Royals clappers to the first 2,000 fans through the gates. The Royals will be wearing special V&M Towing flame jerseys during the contest.

LAST WEEK

Tuesday, March 16 vs. Peoria Sovereign Center 7:05PM

GAME NOTES: With a thrilling, come-from-behind 4-3 shootout victory, Reading snapped its eight-game winless streak. Graig Mischler notched two assists, while scoring the game-winning shootout goal, and Cody Rudkowsky won his 19th game of the season, stopping all four Rivermen he faced in the shootout.

Wednesday, March 17 @ Toledo Toledo Sports Arena 7:00PM

GAME NOTES: The Royals posted their first win on the road with a 2-1 victory over the Storm. Lars Pettersen and Graig Mischler accounted for the Royal markers in the second period. Cody Rudkowsky posted his 20th win of the season. The Royals improved their record to 2-0-1 in the Sports Arena in Toledo and 3-0-2 overall.

Friday, March 19 @ Trenton Sovereign Bank Arena 7:30PM

GAME NOTES: The Trenton Titans picked up just their second win in this series, with both victories coming at home in Sovereign Bank Arena. The second period provided all the scoring, with Chris Pittman and Robert Liscak (GW) accounting for the Titan markers. The Royals lone goal came from David Masse. Reading dropped to 6-2-0 on the season against Trenton.

Saturday, March 20 @ Trenton Sovereign Bank Arena 7:00PM

GAME NOTES: The Titans tied the Royals in the Northern Division standings with a 5-0 victory. Ex Royal-netminder Peter Hamerlik stopped 25 shots against his former mates to record the shutout. Bryce Cockburn netted a hat trick while BJ Kilbourne recorded four assists for Trenton. Two other Titans recorded three point efforts in the win.

THIS WEEK

Tuesday, March 23 vs. Wheeling Sovereign Center 7:05PM

GAME NOTES: Wheeling has taken two points from Reading in each of the team's seven meetings this season (7-0-0), including two wins in March at the Sovereign Center. The Nailers have outscored the Royals 19-7 this year, while blanking Reading twice. Reading's captain Brad Church is suspended for this game due to a hit on Nailer forward Jason Jaffray on March 9.

Friday, March 26 @ Cincinnati US Bank Arena 7:30PM

GAME NOTES: The Reading Royals and Cincinnati Cyclones meet for the fourth and final time this season. Reading is 2-0-1 versus Cincinnati, with both victories coming at home in the Sovereign Center. Cincinnati beat Reading in Cincinnati on January 28, 4-3. Terry Marchant notched the game winner for the Cyclones with only 20-seconds remaining in the OT session.

Saturday, March 27 @ Wheeling Wes Banco Arena 7:30PM

GAME NOTES: The final meeting of the regular season between these two Northern Division opponents. The Royals are 0-2-2 in Wes Banco Arena in Wheeling. Captain Brad Church leads the Royals in scoring versus the Nailers. Church has 2 goals and 6 points in seven games in the series. The Nailers are led by Jason Jaffray, who has five goals and nine points, in seven appearances against Reading.

Sunday, March 28 vs. Atlantic City Sovereign Center 5:05PM

GAME NOTES: This is the final regular season meeting between Reading and Atlantic City and the fifth straight affair in the Sovereign Center in Reading. The Royals have posted a 2-5-2 mark against Atlantic City this season. The Bullies have won the last two contests in the Sovereign Center on March 7, 3-0, and March 13, 6-4.

ECHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE:
#10 David Masse 4GP TEAM RECORD: 2-2-0 STATS: 2-1-3 (+1)
Masse rifled in two goals and an assist for three points and was one of several Royals to have a plus rating (+1) after the four game week. Masse's tallies came in a 4-3 shootout win on Tuesday versus Peoria and on Friday, a power play marker, which tied the game with the Titans at one apiece. The Montreal, Quebec native chipped in an assist on Wednesday in Toledo in a 2-1 Royal victory.
DAVID MASSE 6'0" 190LBS HOMETOWN: MONTREAL, PQ DOB: 12-2-82
LAST YEAR: QUEBEC (QMJHL) AMATEUR CLUB: QUEBEC (QMJHL)

ECHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE:
#30 Cody Rudkowsky 3GP RECORD: 2-1-0 GAA: 1.92 SPCT: .938% TEAM RECORD: 2-2-0
Cody Rudkowsky tied a club record for wins in a season recording his 19th and 20th of the season. Rudkowsky stopped 37 shots in regulation and overtime, including four of four shooters in the shootout, Tuesday in a 4-3 win over Peoria. The Willingdon, Alberta native stopped 26 shots in a 2-1 victory over Toledo on St. Patrick's Day. Rudkowsky finished his week allowing just two goals in 30 shots on Friday in Trenton in a 2-1 loss.
CODY RUDKOWSKY 6'1" 215LBS HOMETOWN: WILLINGDON, AB DOB: 7-21-78
LAST YEAR: TRENTON (ECHL)/ WORCESTER (AHL)/ ST. LOUIS (NHL) AMATEUR CLUB: SEATTLE (WHL)

TEAM STREAKS:
· Reading ended a season high eight game winless streak (0-7-1) with their victory on Tuesday over Peoria (4-3SOW)
· Royals rank 4th on the power play (20.5%) and 9th on the penalty kill (84.7%) in the ECHL
· Royals are 24-0-3 when leading after two periods
· Reading was blanked on Saturday in Trenton for the fourth time on the road and sixth time this season

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 from 7-8 p.m. This week's guests include: Center #19 Lars Pettersen and left wing #25 Brad Church. 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 3/24/04 5 PM - 7 PM @ Applebees CELEBRITY BARTENDERS #17 Ian Turner & #16 Peter Hay

Tuesday 3/30/04 5:30 PM @ The Sheraton of Reading END OF THE YEAR LUAU BANQUET - 30/PERSON RSVP - 610-898-7213 Full Team

Wednesday 3/31/04 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM @ CTCE Federal Credit Union Centre Ave. OPEN HOUSE #11 Dave Stewart & #4 Reagan Rome

TRANSACTIONS:
3/16/2004 Add PETER HAY (RW) returned from Hartford(AHL)
3/16/2004 Delete SCOOTER SMITH (LW) traded to Dayton
3/17/2004 Delete PETER HAY (F) loaned to Hartford (AHL)
3/17/2004 Add NICK LEES (F) signed contract
3/19/2004 Add TOMAS SLOVAK (D) assigned by Hershey (AHL)
3/19/2004 Add JAMIE O'LEARY (LW) traded from Dayton

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.

ROYALS ITINERARY:
All times subject to change
Monday 10:00-11:00 a.m. practice at the Sovereign Center
Tuesday 10:00-10:30 a.m. morning skate; Royals vs. Wheeling 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday 10:00-11:00 a.m. practice at the Body Zone; depart for Cincinnati
Thursday Practice at US Bank Arena in Cincinnati
Friday 11:00-11:30 a.m. morning skate; Royals @ Cincinnati 7:30 p.m.
Saturday Royals @ Wheeling 7:30 p.m.
Sunday OFF

Check out the Reading Royals Statistics

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ECHL Stories from March 22, 2004


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