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Reading Royals

Royals Game Day: Morning Hockey in Worcester

November 14, 2018 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Worcester, MA - The Reading Royals (5-3-1-3, 14 pts., 3rd North), proud ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms, are 3-0-0-2 on the road and at the DCU Center Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. to face the Worcester Railers (3-8-1-0, 7 pts., 7th North). Wednesday marks the only morning game the Royals will play this season. The Royals are 1-0-0-0 in a.m. contests under Head Coach Kirk MacDonald, defeating Manchester in Nov. 2017.

The Royals are the only team in the league without a road regulation loss and Reading is averaging 3.8 goals per game away from Santander Arena. The squad has outscored foes, 19-16, in road contests. In minor professional hockey, only Reading and the AHL's Rochester Americans have avoided losing on the road in regulation.

Reading is 1-0-1-0 against Worcester this season and the teams last played on the ECHL's opening weekend Oct. 13-14. The Royals pounded the Railers, 6-4, in the last meeting as the squads each had three fighting majors and 27 PIM.

Saturday, Reading's Alex Krushelnyski scored but dropped, 3-1, at home to Adirondack. Alex Sakellaropoulos blocked 38 shots.

The Royals return home for Special Olympics Night on Fri., Nov. 16 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Newfoundland. On Sat., Nov. 17, the Royals rematch the Growlers for Reading's Veterans Day Game, featuring hockey's first-ever 3-D Jerseys, a rally towel giveaway to the first 2,500 fans (UGI Utilties) and a special national anthem by Sixers anthem singer Ron C. Brooks.

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

4 needed

The Royals are 5-0-0-0 this season when netting at least four goals. By contrast, the Royals have scored two or fewer goals in six games (0-3-1-2). In three of Reading's victories, the club has netted at least four in a period, which last happened in the third period to create a come-from-behind, 5-1 victory Oct. 28 vs. Wheeling.

The Royals multiple-strike ability has allowed it to salvage at least a point of late. On Nov. 9, the Royals scored back-to-back goals in the last 1:58 at Adirondack to tie the game at two, including a Josh MacDonald goal at 19:59 of the third to tie the game. The Thunder managed to win, 3-2, in the shootout.

Four of Reading's five victories have been in come-from-behind fashion, including Reading's Oct. 14 victory vs. Worcester.

Lotz loved Reading

Wednesday marks the start of Austin Lotz's second stint with Reading. The Royals acquired Lotz Saturday from Jacksonville for future considerations. He last played for Reading in the 2016-17 after Tuscon loaned Lotz, then a rookie, to the Royals in Dec. 2016. He went 2-0-0-0 with Royals, surrendering five goals in two games to defeat division rivals Wheeling (26 svs, 2 GA) and Adirondack (31 saves, 3 GA). After defeating the Thunder, he completed the remainder of the 2016-17 regular season with Rapid City.

Last campaign, Lotz played his second professional season with Jacksonville, winning 19 of the team's 26 games. He also topped team netminders with 42 games played, accruing a 3.02 goals against average and .892 save percentage.

Season-series assessment: Reading is 1-0-1-0 vs. Worcester

Through two games, the Royals and Railers each have a come-from-behind victory in the season series. After falling behind, 1-0, on Oct. 13 in the season opener, Worcester's Barry Almeida tied to even the game at 1:04 of the second and Josh Holmstrom bagged an overtime-winning goal two minutes into the extra session.

Reading fell behind by one in the opening period, but scored two strikes in five minutes to take the lead for good in a 6-4 victory Oct. 14. Shane Walsh scored two goals Oct. 14 and leads all players in the series. Alex Krushelnyski matched a career high with three points in the win. The fifth-year forward has four points to top the Royals in the series.

Seven Royals have at least two points vs. Worcester this season, compared to three Railers (Barry Almeida, Josh Holmstrom, David Quennville).

Huntebrinker's point streak

Michael Huntebrinker's point streak is at a career-long ten games after generating an assist on Reading's lone goal Saturday vs. Adirondack. The assist to Alex Krushelnyski kept the two even for the squad's points lead (12 points).

The native of St. Louis, MO has tied his longest point streak since his NCAA career began at Minnesota State in 2013. As a junior in 2015-16, Huntebrinker registered a personal-NCAA-best eight-game streak and completed the season with 19 points.

In his senior season, he generated 22 points at Minnesota State.

Last season, as a rookie, Huntebrinker mashed 20 goals and 41 points en route to being named to the 2018 CCM ECHL All-Star Classic. He became the ninth Royals rookie to score 20 goals in a season.

He scored five goals against the Thunder in last season's regular-season series, including his first professional hat trick Dec. 30 vs. Adirondack.

Scouting Worcester

The Railers have dropped seven straight entering Wednesday (0-6-1-0) and have been outscored, 24-9, during the skid. The team last won Oct. 26 vs. Manchester, 4-3. Since that point, the Railers have been limited to two goals or fewer in each of the last seven. By contrast, Worcester has allowed at least three goals in six of the seven, including a 3-1 loss at Maine Saturday.

Netminder Evan Buitenhuis (1-3-1-0 record, 2.61 GAA, .921 sv.%) signed an AHL contract with Bridgeport last week. He has started back-to-back games since entering in relief of Mitch Gillam Nov. 7 at Newfoundland.

Worcester's power play ranks 27th (last) in the ECHL, scoring three goals on 45 chances (6.7%). David Quennville registered one of the team's man-up goals vs. Reading Oct. 14.

Returning forward Woody Hudson leads the squad with seven points. Since netting a pair of goals opening weekend vs. Reading, forward Barry Almeida has tallied two more to extend to second-best on the team with four goals (6 pts.). Josh Holmstrom leads the Railers with five goals (5 pts.).

Special Olympics Night vs. Newfoundland: Nov. 16, 7:00 p.m.

Veteran's Day Game with rally towel giveaway vs. Newfoundland: Nov. 17, 7:00 p.m.

First-ever 3-D Hockey Jerseys. First 2,500 fans receive a rally towel, pres. by UGI Utilities. Double-ampute, Eagle Scout and Sixers anthem singer Ron C. Brooks will perform the Star Spangled Banner.

About the Royals

The Royals have been owned by serial entrepreneur Jack Gulati since 2014 and are entering their 18th ECHL season. Proudly affiliated with the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers and AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Reading plays in the Santander Arena, located in downtown Reading, PA at 700 Penn Street. The Royals won the Kelly Cup in 2013, have made the playoffs in nine straight seasons and are four-time division champions.

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