ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Dropped By K-Wings In Season Opener, 4-1

Published on October 15, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals of the ECHL (0-1-0=0), affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League and the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, were dropped by the Kalamazoo Wings, 4-1, in the ECHL's season opener. The Wings scored 1:28 into the season and didn't look back after racking up three in the second period to win the team's first game ever in the ECHL. Kalamazoo's goaltender, Ryan Nie (1-0-0) continued his recent mastery of the Royals stopping 33 of the 34 shots that Reading was able to get through; while Royals' goaltender, Kevin Regan (0-1-0; 32/36), was unable to hold the Wings' attack at bay. The Royals' attack on the power play left a considerable amount to be desired, as the team finished 0-8 with the man advantage. Kalamazoo scored one power play goal in four chances with the man advantage.

The K-Wings struck early when Darryl Lloyd was sprung into the offensive end wide on the right wing side and pinpointed a perfect laser in perhaps the only open spot on the net-the upper, far-side corner-to score Kalamazoo's first goal in ECHL history. Reading bounced back to tie the game at one 11:36 into the first. As a penalty to the Royals' Scott Langdon was expiring, Gavin Morgan pressed hard on the fore-check in Kalamazoo's end and caused a turnover. Morgan found Ben McLeod, who had solid position on the right side of the Wings' net. McLeod was able to snap the puck over the left shoulder of Nie just under the bar for the first goal of the Royals' season.

In the second, Kalamazoo began to pull away 2:34 into the period when a shot from the right point by Will Colbert appeared to trickle through Regan's gear to a spot behind him, where Anton Kharin punched it in for what proved to be the first game winner in Kalamazoo's ECHL history. The K-Wings added some insurance 9:38 into the second when Darryl Bootland was able to put back another loose puck after Regan was unable to cleanly handle a shot by Rick Cleaver in the waning moments of a Wings' power play. Kalamazoo and Lloyd tacked on another one 13:06 into the second on an odd man rush that saw Kharin chip a cross ice saucer to Lloyd and he bore down the left side of the slot. Lloyd went pipe-and-in off the far side for his second of the night. Despite getting five chances with the power play from that point forward, the Royals went quietly into the night on this one, dropping the team's record to 4-5-0 in the nine season openers (3-4-2 in home openers) since the Royals inception in 2001.

The Royals seek to turn things around on Saturday night (October 17, 2009 @ 7:05 pm) when the Elmira Jackals visit the Sovereign Center. The first 1500 fans that night will receive a dry-erase schedule board courtesy of CJ Rooter Plumbing and Drain Service. Season tickets for the Royals' 2009-10 season are currently available. To become a part of Royals hockey, call 610-898-PUCK or log onto www.royalshockey.com .

Check out the Reading Royals Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from October 15, 2009


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.

OurSports Central