Royals Comeback Falls Short, Drop Road-Trip Finale against Admirals, 4-3
April 10, 2025 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release
Reading, PA - The Reading Royals (31-28-9-2), proud ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms, fell to the Norfolk Admirals (40-23-6-1), 4-3, at Norfolk Scope Arena on Wednesday, April 9th.
Goaltender Vinnie Purpura (11-6-4-1) suffered the loss in goal with 28 saves on 31 shots faced while Admirals' goaltender Ian Shane (3-0-2-0) earned the win in goal with 23 saves on 26 shots faced.
Shane Sellar (11) scored the game's opening goal for Reading 5:24 into play to give the Royals a 1-0 lead until Grant Hebert (6) evened the score at 13:30, 1-1.
Norfolk took the lead at 7:17 into the second period, 2-2, on Brady Fleurent's (29) first of two goals in the game. After Robert Calisti (8) tied the score for Reading, Denis Smirnov (19) restored the Admirals lead at 14:32, 3-2.
Fleurent (30) improved Norfolk's lead to two, 4-2, at 17:48 of the final frame. Despite a Jake Smith (15) goal in the final minute for the Royals, at 19:17, a comeback for Reading fell short.
With the loss, the Royals finished their five-game road-trip at 2-3-0 and a road portion of the regular season schedule at 16-17-3-0. Reading has registered a point in 16 of their last 22 (13-6-2-1), as well as 28 of their 39 games since Jan. 1st, 2025 (21-11-5-2).
The Royals return home for the final two games of the regular season against the Worcester Railers on Friday, April 11th and Saturday, April 12th at 7 PM at Santander Arena. The Royals hold a magic number of 6 and require two wins in the final two games of the regular season to clinch the final playoff spot in the North Division.
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