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ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Celebrate Boxing Day With Comeback Overtime Win Against Elmira, 4-3

December 26, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals (17-9-2=36, 3rd North Division) of the ECHL shook the holiday hang-over about half-way into this one and rang off four unanswered goals, including an overtime game winner by defenseman Patrik Hersley, to beat the Elmira Jackals, 4-3, at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. The Royals stretched their home unbeaten streak to ten games (9-0-1) with their sixth straight win at the Sovereign Center. With the tie in regulation, the Jackals remained unbeaten in their last nine games (7-0-2). Goaltender Jon Quick (9-5-1; 32/35), whose last three games with the Royals have ended regulation in a tie, picked up his first pro overtime win; while Joel Martin (15-3-2; 20/24), playing in his tenth straight for the Jackals, took the overtime loss.

Elmira started the scoring 8:00 into the game, when Luke Fulghum fired a wrister from deep in the left circle that eluded Quick across his body and high to the glove side for his seventh goal of the season. Elmira stretched the lead to 2-0 with a four-on-three power play goal at the 15:12 mark of the first. The Jackals moved it around the perimeter until defenseman Trevor Hendrikx settled and ripped one out of the left circle. Quick got a piece of it with his left arm-but not enough as it slipped through for Hendrikx's second goal of the year.

Elmira took a three goal lead at the 6:28 mark of the second when Chaz Johnson created a turnover in the Royals' defensive zone and then fed Benoit Doucet in front of the Reading net. Doucet laid down a great move to his left-on which Quick bit-and then pulled the puck back to his right, where he was able to slip the backhand in for his seventh of the year. The Royals then found their sea legs, beginning with a goal by defenseman Mike Salekin at the 10:56 mark of the second. Just as a penalty was expiring to Elmira's Joe Pelle, the Royals pressed in and around the Elmira goal. A loose puck in the Jackals' crease was pushed to the mid slot, where Salekin stepped in and ripped a low slap shot that beat Martin for his second goal of the year. Reading cut the Elmira to one with a power play goal at the 17:20 mark of the second. Hersley drilled a shot from the high slot that Martin stopped, but Ned Lukacevic found the loose puck at the left side of the net and forced it home for his ninth goal of the year. Forty-five seconds later, the Royals tied the game at three when Charlie Kronschnabel ripped a shot from the top of the right circle and Martin stopped it. The rebound, however, fluttered into the air at the top of the crease, where Kevin Saurette batted the puck out of mid-air with a backhander for his third goal of the year.

In the third, both teams had their opportunities, most notably for the Jackals during a power play sequence mid-way into the period. During that sequence, Elmira created a number of excellent scoring opportunities but Quick was superb for the Royals, making several spectacular stops at big moments. In overtime, Elmira got the first opportunity, but Reading weathered that storm, and transitioned into the offensive end. Malcolm MacMillan was able to elude the Jackals defense and enter the Jackal zone. MacMillan then fed Hersley who took a shot from deep on the right side of the net that Martin stopped. However, the rebound came right back to Hersley, and he was able to flutter a backhander over Martin and into the net for his third goal of the season-and his first pro overtime game winner.

Reading returns to action on Friday night (December 28) (7:05 pm) when the Cincinnati Cyclones visit the Sovereign Center. The first 1500 fans that night who are 21 years of age and older will receive an 'R-Team/R-Town' pub glass courtesy Molson Canadian and All Star Distributing. The game night broadcast on Friday will begin at 6:35 pm with the pre-game warm-up show on ESPN Radio 1240 am in Ephrata, as well as on the internet through the Royals' website, www.royalshockey.com. Streaming video is available on a pay per view basis through the B2 Networks.

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