Sports stats

ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Down Chiefs, 5-1

March 1, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA – Led by forward Dan Welch's (1g, 2a) three points, Reading blasted Johnstown, 5-1, at the Sovereign Center to takeover first place in the North Division with 67 points.

The Royals (31-16-5) scored the only two goals in the first period, both on the power play. Defenseman Troy Milam (2a), playing in his first game with Reading after being assigned from the Manchester Monarchs earlier in the day, was instrumental in both markers. At 3:02 of the stanza, Milam sent a cross-ice feed to his defensive partner, Adam Borzecki (1g), who promptly fired home a one-timer from just inside the offensive blue line. Welch, who screened Chiefs' goaltender David Cann (28 saves) on the play, also drew an assist on Borzecki's fourth goal of the year. All of Borzecki's tallies have come on the man advantage this season.

Then at 6:41, forward Eric Fortier (1g) collected the rebound off of Milam's blast from the point and lifted the loose puck over Cann for his 19th goal of the season and eighth on Sovereign Center ice. Center Graig Mischler (1a) collected his team-leading 39th assist of the year on the play.

The Royals penalty kill units kept Johnstown off the board late in the period, as they successfully defended two five-on-three shorthanded situations. Reading killed off 65 seconds of two-man deficits between the two opportunities, as the ECHL's 20th best penalty killers held the Chiefs scoreless in four power play chances and limited them to just six shots in the first 20 minutes of play.

Early in the second period, forward Jon Francisco (1g) and Welch used great individual efforts to help the Royals pad their lead. First it was Francisco, who came in alone on Cann and used a shot fake to get the netminder to commit. Francisco then deposited the puck past the sprawled out goaltender for an unassisted goal, his 15th tally of the season, which came at 4:40 of the frame.

Welch recorded his second point of the evening at the 5:55 mark, on a highlight reel goal of his own. The University of Minnesota product slipped around defenseman P.L. Courchesne (1a) and beat Cann under the crossbar as he was falling to the ice. Defenseman Ian Turner (1a) and goaltender Barry Brust (30 saves) drew the helpers on Welch's fifth goal in eight games with Reading. The assist was Brust's fourth of the year.

Center Preston Mizzi gave the Royals a 5-0 lead with 49 seconds left before intermission with his 11th goal of the campaign. Mizzi took a feed in the slot from Welch and buried the chance for a power play goal. Defenseman Tom Galvin (1a) was also credited with an assist.

After two periods, Reading held a 29-18 shot advantage.

Johnstown recorded its lone goal 2:06 into the third period, when center Chad Cavanagh (1g) beat Brust for a man advantage goal, his 12th of the season. Defenseman Jeremy Van Hoof (1a) and Courchesne got the assists on the goal that broke Brust's 122:06 shutout streak. Brust now also sports an eight-game unbeaten streak on home ice.

With the win, the Royals now lead the Keystone Cup Series 3-2. Reading also improved to 15-5-2 on home ice this season.

Reading returns to action with a pair of home games beginning on Friday, March 4. The Dayton Bombers visit Reading, with a start time of 7:05 p.m. It's 80's Rock Mullet Night at the Sovereign Center. Free Mullet wigs will be handed out to the first 2,000 in attendance. Then on Saturday, March 5, the Wheeling Nailers come to town, as Diamond Credit Union will be giving away Jeff Miles' Action Cards to the first 2,500 through the gate. That match is also at 7:05 p.m. As always, the Classic Café pre-game show gets underway approximately 30 minutes before the puck drops. Listen live on the Royals' web site, www.royalshockey.com, or locally on ESPN Radio 1240.

Don't forget, Royals' fans, be sure to stop by the Classic Café – off Route 183 in Bern Township, just two miles north of the Reading Airport – on Monday, March 7, for Royals Weekly from 6-7 pm. Meet coach Derek Clancey as well, plus win prizes courtesy of Bowl-O-Rama, the Classic Café, Fox East Theatres and the Reading Royals. Royals Weekly can be heard on ESPN radio, 1240AM and via the worldwide web at www.royalshockey.com.

Check out the Reading Royals Statistics



ECHL Stories from March 1, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Reading Royals Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central