ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Explode For First Win Of Season, 7-3, Over Toledo

October 23, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Toledo, OH - The Reading Royals of the ECHL (1-1-1=3, 2nd East Division), affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League and the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, exploded for a season high seven goals to pick up the team's first win of the year, 7-3, over the Toledo Walleye at Lucas County Downtown Arena in Toledo, Ohio. Seven different Royals scored in the game, (and thirteen players picked up at least a point) as Reading scored the last four goals of the game to pull away from the Walleye in the last forty-minutes. After a wild first period, Royals' goaltender Kevin Regan settled in and was solid down the stretch in registering his first win as a Royal (1-1-1; 32/35). Toledo's Jordan Pearce (1-1-0; 15/22) sustained his first loss as a pro. Reading's final goal (by Nicholas Bilotto) was scored while the team was playing with the man advantage (1-3); for the first time this season, the Royals' PK kept the opposition off the board (0-4).

Toledo struck first 3:25 into the game, when J.C. Sawyer stepped into the high slot and fired a low slap shot back against the grain low to the glove side for his second of the year. The Royals responded thirty-five seconds later when a wild scramble ensued around the Walleye net and Charlie Kronschnabel jammed it in for his first of the year. Reading took the lead for the first time (2-1) 5:25 into the first, when Dinos Stamoulis carried down the right wing wall and slid the puck into the mid-slot where a waiting Ben McLeod quickly fired low stick side for his third of the season. Toledo bounced back again. This time, Malcolm MacMillan took control on the end wall and fed a between the legs pass to the top of the crease, where a cutting Mike Hedden slipped it between Regan's legs for his first pro goal 8:37 into the game. Once again, Reading jumped back on top thirty-one seconds later when another broken play around the Walleye net resulted in a wild scramble and a multi-deflection goal for Daniel Steiner. And, once again, Toledo bounced back to re-tie the game in the see-saw first when Evan Rankin took control after a neutral zone face-off and carried deep into Reading's zone on the right wing side where he fired a shot that beat Regan to the far side for Rankin's first goal as a pro.

Reading took the lead for good 11:32 into the second period, when Stefano Giliati sprang Danick Bouchard for a break towards the Toledo goal. Bouchard powered his way to the top of the crease where he forced the puck through Pearce for his first of the year. Later in the period, Bouchard sprang Andrew Sarauer into the offensive end with a perfect saucer through the neutral zone. As Sarauer cut to the net, Walleye defender Brock Wilson took him down and Sarauer was awarded a penalty shot-an opportunity Sarauer did not waste. Sarauer went back-hand, fore hand and beat Pearce for his first goal of the year to give Reading a 5-3 lead.

The Royals added a pair in the third. The first when Giliati finished a Bouchard pass with a hard shot from the left circle that beat Pearce high to the glove side; and the second, when Nicholas Bilotto took control of a loose puck in the left circle after an Eric Werner shot from the point was blocked directly to Bilotto's stick. Bilotto fired for the power play goal to give Reading the four goal lead (7-3). Toledo charged hard down the stretch, but Regan was solid, particularly in the waning moments, to preserve the first win of the year for the Royals.

Next, the Royals travel to Kalamazoo, Michigan where the team will take on the Kalamazoo Wings for a pair of weekend games. Saturday's game time is 7:30 pm, and the Royals broadcast will be on the air starting at 7:00 pm on the Royals Radio Network presented by Transmissions by Arbogast. To become a part of Royals hockey, call 610-898-PUCK or log onto www.royalshockey.com .

Check out the Reading Royals Statistics



ECHL Stories from October 23, 2009


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