ECHL Reading Royals

Royals continue strong play at home to post winning week

February 2, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


The Reading Royals remained dominant at home in week 16 of the season. The Royals knocked off the Augusta Lynx on Friday, 5-3, and the Dayton Bombers on Sunday, 8-1, to raise their unbeaten streak at home to six games. The Royals dropped two games on the road; On Wednesday the Cincinnati Cyclones scored with 20-seconds remaining in overtime to beat Reading ,4-3. Saturday in Johnstown, the Chiefs swept the Royals at home this season with their 5-2 victory. Johnstown leads the Keystone Cup Series four-games-to-two.

The Reading Royals take to the road for the 27th and 28th time this season this week. Reading visits Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City for the final two times this season. The Royals have posted a 0-2-1 mark against the defending Kelly Cup Champs. Reading and Atlantic City meet a total of ten times this season with each club hosting five affairs. Face off on Friday and Saturday night in Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City is 7:05 p.m. All the action be heard locally on ESPN radio, 1240AM or via Sportsjuice on the Royals website at www.royalshockey.com beginning at 6:40 p.m.

LAST WEEK

Wednesday, January 28 @ Cincinnati US Bank Arena 7:30PM

GAME NOTES: Reading and Cincinnati met for the second of four meetings this season at US Bank Arena in Cincinnati. Despite overcoming a 3-1 deficit to force overtime, the Royals couldn't get the game winner. Terry Marchant scored his second goal of the game with just 20-seconds left in overtime to give Cincy a 4-3 win.

Friday, January 30 vs. Augusta Sovereign Center 7:05PM

GAME NOTES: The rubber match of this series would be decided with the only meeting in Reading this season. The Royals tallied three first period goals and held onto beat the Western Conference's Augusta Lynx, 5-3. The Royals were paced by six multiple point scorers in the contest, including; Graig Mischler (3A) and captain Brad Church (2G). Cody Rudkowsky picked up his 15th win of the season in net for the Royals.

Saturday, January 31 @ Johnstown War Memorial 7:00PM

GAME NOTES: The Chiefs jumped on the Royals early, tallying three, first-period goals, en-route to a 5-2 win. Lars Pettersen and Graig Mischler scored for Reading in the loss. The Royals went just 1-8 on the man advantage, while dropping to 0-4 on the road versus Johnstown this year.

Sunday, February 1 vs. Dayton Sovereign Center 1:05PM

GAME NOTES: In their biggest rout of the season, the Royals detonated the Bombers, 8-1. Reading moved to 15-1-2 at home with the win. Seven skaters notched multiple point efforts, and Cody Rudkowsky made 38 saves for his 16th win of the season. Reading scored at least two goals in each period, highlighted by a four-goal outburst in the game's second stanza.

THIS WEEK

Friday, February 6 @ Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall 7:05PM

GAME NOTES: The Royals open the weekend with a pair of games in Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Reading is 0-2-1 versus Atlantic City this season, with each contest taking place in New Jersey. Luke Curtin leads the Bullies and all scorers with 3 goals and 7 points in three games. Bully netminder Scott Stirling is 3-0-0 against Reading. The Bullies have outscored the Royals 11-4 in the first three outings.

Saturday, February 7 @ Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall 7:05PM

GAME NOTES: Reading and Atlantic City meet for the final time in Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City this season. The Royals will host the next five meetings in this season series. The defending Kelly Champs will make two visits to Reading in February and three in March.

ECHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE:

#15 Graig Mischler 4GP TEAM RECORD: 2-1-1 STATS: 2-6-8 (even)

The Holbrook, New York native has scored in six straight games. Since January 16, Mischler has recorded six of his team leading 11 multiple point games. Wednesday in Cincinnati, Mischler scored a goal and an assist in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Cyclones. Friday at home versus Augusta, the 6-foot-3 forward tallied three helpers in the Royals 5-3 win. Saturday, Mischler scored one of the two Royals markers in a loss to Johnstown. Finally, on Sunday Mischler tallied two more assists in an 8-1 victory over Dayton.

GRAIG MISCHLER 6'3" 210LBS HOMETOWN: HOLBROOK, NY DOB: 9-15-78 LAST YEAR: CLEVELAND (AHL) AMATEUR CLUB: NORTHEASTERN (HE) DRAFT STATUS: 1998- VANCOUVER CANUCKS – 8TH ROUND – 204TH OVERALL

ECHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE:

#30 Cody Rudkowsky 3GP RECORD: 2-1-0 GAA: 9.00 SPCT: .921% TEAM RECORD: 2-1-1

Cody Rudkowsky kicked out his 15th and 16th wins of the season this week. Rudkowsky, assigned from Worcester on Friday morning, also recorded his 10th and 11th wins at home in the Sovereign Center raising his home record to 11-1-1 with a 1.58 GAA and save percentage to .951. Rudkowsky's two victories came in the Jungle against Augusta and Dayton. His lone loss took place on the road in Johnstown.

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 has the ECHL's best home mark (15-1-2)...The Royals have not lost in regulation at home since October 31.
· The Royals have won six straight at home...Reading has allowed 26 goals in 18 home appearances (1.44)
· Reading has dropped 10 of their last 11 games on the road
· Reading is 15-0-3 when leading after two periods and 0-9-1 when trailing after two

PLAYER STREAKS:

· #6 Jon Zion has registered an assist in five straight games (6a)
· #9 Judd Medak has scored in seven of the last eight games (4-6-10) +3
· #10 David Masse tallied a point or more in six straight games since the All-Star break (2-6-8)
· #15 Graig Mischler has scored in six straight games (3-9-12) and seven of eight (4-10-14) +4...He also leads the Royals with 11 multiple point efforts
· #25 Brad Church scored a goal in five straight home games (6g)
· #30 Cody Rudkowsky is 11-1-1 at home and has a 1.58 GAA and save percentage of .958

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 at 6-7 p.m. This week's guests include: #18 Kent Davyduke and #22 Nick Lent. 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, SENOR TACO, LABATT BLUE AND MORE!

Tuesday 2/03/04 6 PM - 8 PM @ Fairgrounds Square Mall AUTOGRAPH SESSION

Wednesday 2/04/04 7 PM - 8 PM @ NE Branch Library STORYTIME #9 Judd Medak & #18 Kent Davyduke

TRANSACTIONS:

1/27/2004 Delete DEAN ARSENE (D) recalled by Hershey (AHL)
1/29/2004 Delete LEON HAYWARD (RW) recalled to Manchester(AHL)
1/29/2004 Delete TERRY DENIKE (G) placed on 7-day IR
1/30/2004 Add CODY RUDKOWSKY (G) assigned by Worcester 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.

Check out the Reading Royals Statistics



ECHL Stories from February 2, 2004


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