ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Luck Runs Dry in 'St. Hattrick's Day' Loss to Trenton, 3-1

March 14, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals (21-38-4= 46; 7th North Division) of the ECHL were shutdown-although not shutout-in a 3-1 loss to the Trenton Devils at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. On a night when the team wanted to celebrate "St. Hattrick's Day" with what could have been a million dollar payout for a fan-had the Royals bagged three separate hattricks-the Royals fired forty-two shots, but were only able to muster a single goal, which wasn't enough for the big payout or, more importantly, the two points. Michael Ouzas (loss, 18-19-1; 27/30) sustained his second loss in two days to the Devils; while Charlie Effinger (win; 7-9-2; 41/42) had an exceptional night and ran his record against the Royals this year to 4-1-0. Neither team could muster a power play goal, as the Royals were blanked in five chances with the man advantage (including a long sequence of 4-on-3 in the first period). On the flip side, the Royals' penalty killers shut down the number one power play in the ECHL on the six opportunities the Devils had with the man advantage.

After a scoreless first, the Devils struck 2:44 into the second-four seconds after the conclusion of their second power play chance of their night. Defenseman Matt Cohen found himself wide open and with possession in the mid-slot. Cohen then feigned as if he intended to shoot, forcing Ouzas to commit to him. Cohen then deftly slid the puck to the left side of the net, where Jim Henkel was completely unguarded and able to easily tap the puck into an essentially open net for his eighteenth goal of the year. 1:36 later, the Devils got what proved to be the game winner, when Trevor Kell slid a perfect pass from below the goal line on the right wing side to Eric Castonguay who was planted in the mid-slot. Castonguay settled and ripped a shot behind Ouzas for his eighteenth of the year.

The Royals cut the Trenton lead to one (2-1) at the 4:57 mark of the third when Ryan Toomey won an offensive zone face-off back to Ben Gordon at the top of the left circle. Gordon fired a snap shot that beat Effinger high to the blocker side for his first goal as a Royal-and his sixteenth of the season. The Devils regained the two goal lead 1:49 later, when a turnover by Reading in the offensive end, resulted in a transition rush, during which Henkel and Kell worked the give-and-go through the neutral zone. Kell then entered the offensive end on the right wing side and dished a perfect cross-ice pass to Castonguay, who stepped into the left circle and uncorked a blast that beat Ouzas high to the glove side. The Royals attempted to muster the comeback energy, but the St. Hattrick's day luck wasn't to be with the Royals-or the fan(s) who could have profited from a hattrick-or two-or especiallly three. As far as the Devils were concerned, the win jumped them into first place for the first time this season.

The Royals are off until next Friday (March @ 7:05 pm) when the Devils return to the Sovereign Center. Friday's game will be broadcast live on the Royals Radio Network Presented by Transmissions by Arbogast (True Oldies WRAW 1340 am in Reading; and The Ticket WLAN 1390 am in Lancaster), as well as on the internet via webcast hosted by Sportsjuice.com, which can be accessed through the Royals website. To become a part of Royals hockey, call 610-898-PUCK or log onto www.royalshockey.com.

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ECHL Stories from March 14, 2009


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