ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Fall In Pre-Season Finale, 2-1

Published on October 11, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals of the ECHL (pre-season, 0-2-0), affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League and the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, completed the team's pre-season schedule with a 2-1 loss to the Trenton Devils at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. The Devils scored first and picked up a third period short-handed goal to break a 1-1 tie and pick up the win. Royals' goaltender Beau Erickson (pre-season loss: 0-1-0, 18/20) sustained the loss; while the Devils' Dave Caruso (pre-season: 2-0-0, 33/34) was exceptional in picking up the win. After scoring on a first period five-on-three power play, the Royals PP was blanked over the next eight chances (1-9), which included another long sequence of five-on-three in the second. Trenton's power play did not score (0-3), but their penalty killers scored what proved to be the game winner.

The Devils opened the scoring 14:45 into the game, when Trevor Kell sprang Jeremy Akeson for a break with a tap pass down the right wing side. Akeson beat everyone to the top of the crease and finished his chance for his first goal of the pre-season. Reading responded while playing with a two-skater advantage late in the first. Nicholas Bilotto fed Daniel Steiner low on the left side, and Steiner fired a cross ice pass to Stefano Giliati in the right circle. Giliati swept a hard wrister behind Caruso for his first goal of the pre-season with 1:46 left in the period. After a scoreless second, Trenton picked up what proved to be the game winner early in the third period while playing a man short. Akeson carried deep on the right wing side, and as he was pressured by the Royals' defender, tossed a perfect saucer to the hard-charging defenseman Tim Kunes who had joined the rush and beat everyone to the slot to receive the pass. Kunes fired the puck behind Erickson for his first of the pre-season. The Royals pressed down the stretch but were unable to bag the game tying goal and ended the pre-season without a win.

The Royals open the 2009-10 ECHL season on Thursday, October 15, 2009 (7:05 pm) when the Kalamazoo Wings make their first visit ever to the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. 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 11, 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