ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Hammer Final Nail in Wheeling Coffin...Win Decisive Game 5, 4-0

Published on April 15, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Cody Rudkowsky registered his league leading fourth post-season victory as the visiting Royals knocked off the #1 team in the Eastern Conference, the Wheeling Nailers, 4-0! Rudkowsky stopped 30 shots, including 14 in the final stanza, to help the Royals advance to the Northern Division finals. Reading, who was 0-2-3 in Wes Banco Arena in Wheeling in the regular season, won two of three games on the road in the series to win the best-of-five Northern Divsion semifinal series three games to two.

Dean Arsene tallied his first goal in the a Royals uniform and the club's first post-season shorthanded goal to put the Royals up 1-0 at the 13:17 mark of the first period. Kent Davyduke and Ian Turner assisted on the shorthanded tally. Despite being outshot 8-5 after the first period, Reading led 1-0. The Royals killed off three consecutive power-plays for Wheeling, while not getting a man-advantage opportunity in the first stanza.

The Royals extended their lead to 2-0 on in the second stanza on Graig Mischler's first goal of the post-season. Kent Davyduke registered his second assist of the evening, while Judd Medak picked up a helper as well. Captain Brad Church would make it 3-0 in Reading's favor with just five seconds remaining in the middle period. Church's power-play goal was his first tally since February 21 (23 games). Lars Pettersen and David Masse each registered their third assist of the post-season.

In the third, Kent Davyduke scored an empty netter with just 1:13 left to go in the contest. Reading's four-goal victory was the first win by more than two goals in this series. Davyduke finished with his second three-point effort in this series (1g, 2a) and now is second on the Royals post-season scoring list with a goal and seven points (Masse 5g, 3a = 8pts. - leads Reading post-season scoring).

Reading moves on to battle the Peoria Rivermen in the Northern Divsion finals. Peoria knocked out Atlantic City in four games to advance in Kelly Cup play. Game one is slated for Saturday, April 16 in Peoria, Illinois. Face off time will be 8:00 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on the Royals website at www.royalshockey.com and locally on ESPN radio, 1240AM beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Check out the Reading Royals Statistics

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



ECHL Stories from April 15, 2004


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