Royals in Playoff Position to Begin Calendar Year
January 3, 2018 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release
Reading, PA - The Reading Royals (16-14-2-0, 34 pts., T-3rd North) are in playoff position to begin the 2018 calendar year and have four games this week, including three home contests Jan. 5-7.
The Royals went 2-1-0-0 last week and scored 11 goals in three games. The turnaround included a 6-2 triumph over Worcester in front of more than 4,000 fans on Thursday. Reading wore Captain America jerseys and hosted its first-ever Saturday in a 5-3 victory vs. Adirondack (Ultron).
Reading is at Worcester this Wed., Jan. 3 for a 7:05 p.m. puck drop. The squads play four times from Jan. 3-10. After Wednesday, the Royals begin a five-game home stand. Here's what's going on at Santander Arena.
Meet Jerry "The King" Lawler on Pro Wrestling Night Jan. 5
Meet wrestling legend Jerry "The King" Lawler at Santander Arena and watch the Royals battle the Brampton Beast on Fri., Jan. 5 at 7:00 p.m.
Mental Health Awareness Night and Kelly Cup Puck Giveaway Jan. 6
Sat., Jan 6 vs. WOR at 7 p.m. : Kelly Cup Tribute Championship puck to the first 2,000 fans courtesy of Berks-Schuylkill Oil Heat Association.
$5 Green Zone Tickets, Dollar Dogs and Postgame skate Jan. 7
Sun., Jan 7 vs. WOR at 4 p.m. : $5 Green Zone Tickets, Dollar dog day presented by Safe Berks, Berks Packing and Coca-Cola, and a postgame skate presented by Body Zone.
$5 Green Zone Tickets vs. Worcester on Wed., Jan. 10
Wed., Jan. 10 vs. WOR at 7 p.m. The Royals return $5 Green Zone tickets as a special fan gift for all games played Sunday-Thursday in January.
Pucks 'N Paws Night, gym bag giveaway, Weiner Dog Races Fri., Jan. 12
Fri., Jan. 12 vs. ADK at 7 p.m. - First 2,000 fans receive a gym bag (Tower Health). It's also Pucks 'N Paws Night and Weiner Dog Races. There will be a special doggy puck drop.
Team Leaders (Active players)
Goals: Matt Willows/Michael Huntebrinker (11), Mark Naclerio (10)
Assists: Matt Willows (16), Mark Naclerio (15), Adam Schmidt (12)
Points: Matt Willows (27), Mark Naclerio (25), Chris McCarthy/Ryan Penny (19)
PIMs: Matt Willows (36), Ryan Penny (35), Jimmy DeVito (32)
+/-: Frank Hora (12), Michael Huntebrinker (9), Matt Wilkins (8)
Practice schedule
Monday - New Year's Day OFF Day
Tuesday - Royals leave for Worcester at 11:00 a.m.
Wednesday - game at 7:05 p.m. at WOR
Thursday - OFF Day
Friday - Morning skate at 10:00 a.m. Game at 7:00 p.m. vs. BRM
Saturday - Game at 7 p.m. vs. WOR
Sunday - Game at 4 p.m. vs. WOR
This Week
Game 33 at Worcester: Wed., Jan. 3 at 7:05 p.m.
- Listen on Rumba 1340 (iHeartRadio app). Watch on ECHL.tv and BCTV
Game 34 vs. Brampton: Fri., Jan. 5 at 7:00 p.m.
- Listen on Rumba 1340 (iHeartRadio app). Watch ECHL.tv.
- Meet wrestling legend Jerry "The King" Lawler at Santander Arena
Game 35 vs. Worcester: Sat., Jan. 6 at 7:00 p.m.
- Listen on Rumba 1340 (iHeartRadio app), Watch on ECHL.tv.
- Kelly Cup Tribute Championship puck to the first 2,000 fans courtesy of Berks-Schuylkill Oil Heat Association.
Game 36 vs. Worcester: Sun., Jan. 7 at 4:00 p.m.
- Listen on Rumba 1340 (iHeartRadio app), Watch on ECHL.tv.
- $5 Green Zone Tickets, Dollar dog day presented by Safe Berks, Berks Packing and Coca-Cola, and a postgame skate presented by Body Zone.
Big 3 Storylines
3) Win and they will come
The Royals had two of its best crowds of the season Thursday and Saturday at Santander Arena. Thursday, Reading filled the Green Zone with $5 tickets and 4,093 fans packed the rink to watch a 6-2 win. Saturday, more than 3,300 came through the gates to watch a 5-3 triumph over Adirondack.
The wildly successful $5 Green Zone tickets promotion continues as a special gift to our great fans in January 2018. Any January home game from Sunday-Thursday will have $5 Green Zone tickets.
Reading has an 11-5-0-0 record at home, best in the North Division.
2) Rook success
The Royals have added rookies F Jimmy DeVito, D Matias Cleland, F Jack Ceglarski, F Brian Morgan and D Nick Neville over the last month. Other first-year players F Michael Huntebrinker, D Frank Hora and D James de Haas have been wildly successful in their debuts.
Huntebrinker topped the Royals with eight goals this month (11 points) and added his first professional hat trick Saturday. Morgan scored the game-winning goal Saturday and had his first ECHL multi-goal and three-point night (2g, 1a). DeVito has scored two goals in his first five games with the Royals. Meanwhile, Hora and de Haas paired together Sunday. Combined, Hora has a plus-18 rating and de Haas has a plus-11 including their stints in Lehigh Valley.
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ECHL Stories from January 3, 2018
- ECHL Board of Governors Approves Sale of Greenville Swamp Rabbits - ECHL
- Monarchs Announce Roster Moves - Manchester Monarchs
- Colorado's Joly named Sher-Wood Hockey ECHL Player of the Week - ECHL
- Ouellette Named CCM ECHL Goaltender of the Week - Florida Everblades
- Florida's Ouellette named CCM ECHL Goaltender of the Week - ECHL
- Royals Prepare for Busy Stretch vs. Railers - Reading Royals
- Former Royals F Cruthers named Head Coach of USHL's Chicago Steel - Reading Royals
- Fuel Add Goaltender Greg Dodds - Indy Fuel
- Last Chance to Bid on Star Wars Jerseys on DASH - Wichita Thunder
- ECHL Announces Fines, Suspensions - ECHL
- CHASE LANG ASSIGNED TO RUSH - Rapid City Rush
- Mallards Send Francis to Orlando - Quad City Mallards
- Nailers Acquire Francis & Turner in Trade with Orlando - Wheeling Nailers
- Admirals Weekly - Norfolk Admirals
- Reimer named The MeiGray Group ECHL Alumnus of the Month - ECHL
- San Antonio Rampage Recall Forward Michael Joly - Colorado Eagles
- Beast Fall to Cyclones on New Years Eve - Brampton Beast
- Royals in Playoff Position to Begin Calendar Year - Reading Royals
- Mavericks Top Oilers in a Shootout on New Year's Eve - Tulsa Oilers
- Railers get zonked in Manchester - Worcester Railers HC
- FUEL CRUISE INTO 2018 WITH NEW YEAR'S EVE WIN IN WHEELING - Indy Fuel
- Railers Get Zonked in Manchester - Worcester Railers HC
- Railers Get Zonked in Manchester - Worcester Railers HC
- Monarchs Ring in New Year with Victory - Manchester Monarchs
- Marcoux on the Mark in 3-2 Indy Win - Wheeling Nailers
- Thunder Wins Penalty-Filled Contest at Allen - Wichita Thunder
- Royals Suffer 3-0 Loss to Thunder - Reading Royals
- Game Recap: Wings Route Mallards on New Year's Eve - Kalamazoo Wings
- Wings Down Mallards - Quad City Mallards
- Admirals Kickstart 10th Annual Guns and Hoses Fundraiser with $1,500 Donation - Norfolk Admirals
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