ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Close Out Road Trip With Win In Wheeling, 5-3

December 3, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Wheeling, WV - The Reading Royals (11-8-1=23, 3rd North Division) of the ECHL built a four goal lead early in the second period and held on for a 5-3 over the Wheeling Nailers at WesBanco Arena on Wheeling, West Virginia. The Royals scored four consecutive goals-three of them from the two players acquired in last week's trade, Brett Hemingway and Marc Cavosie-to pull away from the Nailers, who battled back but could get no closer than a two goal differential. With this win, the Royals earned a split on this most recent four game road trip (2-2-0) and ran the team's road record back to .500 (7-7-0). Goaltender Danny Taylor (2-0-0; 33/36) picked up his second win in as many starts with the Royals this season.

Reading struck early on the team's first power play of the night, when defenseman P.J. Atherton took control at the left point after an offensive zone face-off. Atherton fed Ned Lukacevic in the high slot, and Lukacevic settled and fired a diagonal back-door pass low in the right circle to Dany Roussin whose one-timer beat David Brown (5-5-1; 14/18; 22:07) 2:12 into the game. The Nailers tied the game at the 12:56 mark when Jeremy Swanson fired a low, hard snap shot from the right point that appeared to strike someone or something in front of the Royals goal and slip by Taylor. Reading responded 19 seconds later, when Brett Hemingway scored his first goal with the Royals in his third game with the team on a snap shot from the mid-slot that bounced off the body of Brown and fluttered into the net. Hemingway bagged his second of the game (and sixth of the season) at the 18:38 mark of the first on a quick turn-around snap shot from the top of the right circle that beat Brown between the legs to make it 3-1, Reading.

The Royals took a three goal lead 2:07 into the second when Patrik Hersley chipped the puck from the defensive zone to the offensive end. Joe Zappala then slipped behind the Nailer defense, picked up the loose puck and broke in on all alone firing a snap shot on Brown, who made the original stop but left the rebound to the low slot. Zappala continued to charge to the net and back-handed the loose puck over Brown and into the net for his fourth of the season. The Nailers then pulled Brown and brought in goaltender Martin Houle (no decision; 18/19; 37:53). That didn't slow the Royals, who struck again 1:14 later, when Marc Cavosie ripped a snap shot from the top of the right circle that beat Houle low to the stick side, making it 5-1, Reading. The Nailers then re-grouped, pushed back, and picked up two power play goals-by Kevin Croxton at the 13:08 mark of the second and by Seamus Young 4:34 into the third to cut the Royals lead to two; but Reading was able to hold the Nailers off down the stretch (despite allowing the Nailers four third period power plays) to pick up the team's second road win in two days.

The Royals return home on Wednesday night (6:35) to take on the Nailers again. That night Reading will honor the United Way of Berks County, and the first 1500 fans in attendance will receive a "jersey coozie" courtesy of Comcast. The Royals will also wear special jerseys on Wednesday that will be auctioned off after the game with the net proceeds going to UWBC. Also, there will be a post-game autograph session held on the concourse level of the Sovereign Center with a couple of Royals' players courtesy of Sir Speedy Printing. The game night broadcast on Wednesday will begin at 6:05 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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ECHL Stories from December 3, 2007


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