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ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Drop OT Decision in Pre-Season Finale, 4-3

October 9, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA- The Reading Royals of the ECHL (Pre-Season: 1-0-1-0), affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League and the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, were defeated by the Trenton Devils (Pre-Season 1-1-0-0), 4-3, in overtime in the final pre-season game for both teams at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. Reading jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but the Devils clawed their way back in and capitalized on a careless turnover 1:20 into overtime to pull out the victory. Royals' goaltender Adam Courchaine (OTL, 1-0-1-0; 30/34) made a number of quality stops particularly when the Royals found themselves mired in a stretch of six consecutive power plays against-including a long sequence of five-on-three against. Trenton's Dave Caruso (Win, 1-0-0-0; 29/32) appeared to get stronger as the game progressed, keeping the Royals at bay when the penalty tide turned in the other direction. Reading was unable to capitalize on the power play (0-4), but-for the second consecutive game-scored a short-handed goal. Trenton was unable to connect on the power play either (0-6), which included 1:49 of five-on-three at the start of the second period.

The Royals struck first 3:44 into the game when Eric Castonguay took control in the right corner, turned towards the middle of the ice, and made a perfect pass to Andrew Sarauer, who was chugging down the slot. Sarauer took a quick snap shot that beat Caruso low blocker for his third goal of the pre-season. Reading took a 2-0 lead on the Devils' first power play, when Dallas Jackson hammered one from deep in the defensive zone that ricocheted off the wall and sprang Matt Caruana on a long short-handed break. Caruana didn't waste the chance firing high short side on Caruso for his first of the pre-season at the 5:24 mark of the first.

Trenton tied the game with back-to-back goals scored 43 seconds apart late in the first. On the first, Matthew Kang forced a shot from in tight on the left side of the Royals goal that appeared to roll up Courchaine's arm and go off his back and in at the 14:50 mark of the first. Then Ryan Hayes re-directed a blast off the left half wall by Darcy Zajack out of mid-air that beat Courchaine at the 15:33 mark. Reading then regained the lead (3-2) 1:12 after that when Jackson fired one off the left point that Caruso stopped, but the rebound fell to the front where John Mori was able to punch it back for his first of the pre-season. The Devils re-tied the game at three at the 14:00 mark of the second period, when Kang bagged his second of the night. He walked out from behind the Royals' goal and found the only open space-short-side high-to beat Courchaine. After a scoreless third, the teams went to overtime. At the 1:20 mark, Castonguay took control behind the Royals net. As he cut in front of the goal, Ryan Ginand poke checked the puck off Castonguay's stick just as he was crossing the top of the crease, catching Courchaine unaware as the puck slid in to give the Devils the win.

Next up, the Royals and Devils go at it for real in the 2010-11 ECHL season opener for both clubs next Saturday night (October 16 @ 7:00 pm) at the Sun National Bank Center in Reading.

The Royals host the team's tenth anniversary home opener on Saturday, October 23, 2010 (7:05 pm), when the Elmira Jackals visit the Sovereign Center. Also, be sure to catch the Royals' season opener live from Trenton, New Jersey, (@ Trenton Devils Saturday, October 16, 2010 @ 7:00 pm)-and all of the team's away games this year-on Royals TV exclusively on BCTV courtesy of Boscov's Travel, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Season tickets for the Royals' 2010-11 season are currently available. To become a part of Royals hockey, call 610-898-PUCK or log onto www.royalshockey.com.

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