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ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Game Day: Halloween-Themed Rematch vs. Nailers

October 28, 2018 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals (2-1-1-2, 7 pts., T-3rd North), proud ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms, complete the weekend with the Wheeling Nailers (1-2-0-0, 2 pts., T-5th Central) in the annual Halloween game Sunday at 4:00 p.m. at Santander Arena. Check out concourse trick-or-treating and a postgame skate (pres. by Body Zone). The Royals will also wear specialty jerseys, available to fans on the LiveSource App. To purchase tickets, call 610-898-7825 or visit this link.

In the first season-series matchup Saturday, Alex Krushelnyski scored the tying goal halfway through the third but Wheeling netminder John Muse blocked 37 shots and four in the shootout to defeat Reading, 3-2. Steve Johnson also netted his first professional goal. Troy Josephs (1g, 1a), Cam Brown (2a) and Winston Day Chief (1g, 1a) each recorded multi-point games. Brown won the contest in the shootout's fourth round.

Listen to tonight's game at Mixlr.com/ReadingRoyals, with coverage starting 15 minutes before puck drop.

Rookie Johnson scores first goal

University of Minnesota graduate Steve Johnson tallied his first professional goal in the second period Saturday to provide Reading a 1-0 edge. Johnson walked in from the left point to the left post and smacked home a rebound.

While at Minnesota, Johnson scored six goals (three as a senior, three as a sophomore). The native of Excelsior, MN has played in five of six games this season.

Johnson attended training camp with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and joined Reading in October. He stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 185 pounds.

Point assessment through six

Alex Krushelnyski (1g) leads Reading with eight points through six games. Frank DiChiara, Michael Huntebrinker and Adam Schmidt are next with five points. Shane Walsh tops Reading with three goals. Four Royals have a pair of strikes including DiChiara, who leads Reading with two power-play goals.

New-look Nailers

Wheeling has six returning players from last season - F Cam Brown, F Troy Josephs, D Dan Fick, D Kevin Spinozzi, G Matt O'Connor and G Danny Tirone. Brown is the highest-scoring returner and recorded 53 points in 55 games. Despite Brown's efforts, Wheeling missed the playoffs after finishing fifth with 79 points, three behind the fourth-place Worcester Railers.

There are 13 first-time ECHL players on the Nailers, including their leading-goal scorer, Eliot Grauer.

In contrast, the 2018-19 Royals have 12 players that played for Reading last campaign.

Most-common opponents

Sunday's game marks the 174th meeting between the Royals and Nailers, the most either club has played against another opponent. Prior to this weekend's back-to-back, the Nailers had played Johnstown more than any other ECHL opponent (173 times). The Royals own the season series edge, 96-60-17 At Santander Arena, Reading has 53 wins and 35 losses against the Nailers.

Toledo (74 times) and Cincinnati (63 times) are Reading's two most-common active opponents after Wheeling. Reading owns above .500 records against both clubs.

The Royals were 78-45-12 against Elmira before the team folded following the 2016-17 campaign (135 meetings). Trenton and Reading matched up 147 times between 2001-13, with Reading holding an all-time series edge of 75-57-15.

Not in the same division

The Nailers moved to the ECHL's Central Division and Western Conference for the 2018-19 season, marking the first time the teams are in different conferences. The Royals, members of the North Division and Eastern Conference, had played in the same division as the Nailers in 12 of the prior 17 seasons.

Wheeling and Reading competed in the same division in all but two seasons since 2011.

Royals host Maine Mariners Nov. 7, 7:00 p.m.

First time Mariners visit Santander Arena

"Movember" Night vs. Adirondack: Nov. 10, 7:00 p.m.

Game 1 of our 3-game partnership with American Cancer Society - Package here

Get your name on a Royals jersey and tickets to 3 games with American Cancer Society Package

Check out the Reading Royals Statistics



ECHL Stories from October 28, 2018


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