ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Drop Devils, 5-2

Published on December 7, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - For the first time in four tries this season, the Reading Royals (13-8-1=27, 3rd North Division) of the ECHL defeated the Trenton Devils, 5-2, at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania, to extend the Royals win streak to four games. The Royals, who scored first and built a 3-0 lead by the latter stages of the second period, are unbeaten in their last seven home games (6-0-1). Goaltender Terry Denike (2-2-0; 26/28), who was acquired by Reading in a trade with the Wheeling Nailers on Tuesday, won his first start for Reading; while the Royals finally solved Devils' goaltender Dave Caruso (5-6-0; 39/43; 1 eng), who had defeated Reading three consecutive times coming into tonight's game.

Reading struck 8:20 into the first period, when Marc Cavosie broke hard down the left wing side and slipped by a Trenton defender. Cavosie feigned as if he intended to cut to the top of the crease, getting Caruso to commit to the ice. However, Cavosie instead went around the goal on the left side and wrapped the puck around at the right pipe for his fifth goal of the season. Reading went up 2-0 with a power play goal at the 14:45 mark of the first period on a Dany Roussin put-back of a Patrik Hersley blast from the high slot. Roussin was planted at the top of the crease and was able to corral the loose puck and slip it through Caruso to bag his fourth goal of the year and extended his goal scoring streak to three games.

The Royals got what proved to be the game winner at the 17:18 mark of the second, when Brock Hooton ripped a rocket from mid-reaches of the left circle that trickled through Caruso and into the net for Hooton's fifth goal of the year-and his team leading third GWG. Trenton then mounted a comeback of sorts, which began with a five-on-three power play goal by Eric Castonguay with just four seconds remaining in the second period. Castonguays' hard snap shot from the top of the right circle slipped through Denike on the far side to get the Devils on the board. Trenton then cut the Royals' lead to 3-2 at the 6:12 mark of the third with another power play goal-this one by former Royal Colin Pepperall, who walked deep into the right circle and fired a snap shot low to the far side on Denike. The Royals then found their composure, legs and energy and were able to fight off the Devils during a critical stage in the mid-portion of the third period. With 5:32 remaining, Reading got some insurance with another power play rebound goal. On this one, Caruso stopped back-to-back blasts by Patrik Hersley and P.J. Atherton, but was not able to stop Cavosie, who was set up at the right side of the net and was able to find the loose puck and bat it between the legs of Caruso to give Reading a 4-2 lead. For Cavosie, who has now scored four goals in five games for Reading, that marked his first multi-goal game as a Royal. Bracken Kearns added an empty netter for the Royals, who scored four or more goals for the fourth consecutive game and kept the team's record unblemished (12-0-0) when scoring three or more.

Reading returns to action at the Sovereign Center tomorrow night (7:05 pm) when they face the Wheeling Nailers for the third time in the last six days. The Royals host the 'Teddy Bear Toss' on Saturday night, and fans are encouraged to throw a stuffed animal on the ice when the Royals score their first goal of the game. Those stuffed animals will be collected and given to the U.S. Marines Toys For Tots Program-and the Royals players will take some of those stuff toys to area hospitals for kids in need. Also tomorrow night, the first 2500 fans 18 years of age and older will receive a Powerball Ticket courtesy of the Pennsylvania Lottery. The game night broadcast on Saturday 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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