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ECHL Reading Royals

Royals post 2-0-0 week to clinch first Kelly Cup playoff berth

April 6, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


The Reading Royals clinched their first-ever Kelly Cup playoff berth with two wins on the final week of the regular season. Reading beat Johnstown 3-2 in a shootout on Friday night, and took out Toledo 3-2 in regulation Saturday in the Sovereign Center to reach the post-season for the first time in three years.

In their first post-season appearance, the Royals took on the Johnstown Chiefs in the Cambria County War Memorial in Johnstown. Despite posting a 0-4-0 mark against the Chiefs in the regular season in Johnstown, the Royals skated away with a 2-1 regulation win. With the win, the Royals advance to the second round of the playoffs to take on the Wheeling Nailers.

The Royals and Nailers have tangled nine times this season. Reading has a record of 1-4-4 versus Wheeling this season. The Royals lone win came on March 23 in the Sovereign Center in Reading. Reading has a 0-2-3 record in Wes Banco Arena in Wheeling and a 1-2-1 record in the Sovereign Center. Six of the nine meetings in this series have been decided by one goal. Four of Wheeling's wins have come via the shootout. Wheeling was the only team to beat Reading in regulation in the first 25 games in the Sovereign Center to open the 2003-04 season.

Reading vs. Wheeling (Kelly Cup Playoffs)

Thursday, April 8 @ Wheeling Wes Banco Arena 7:00 PM
Friday, April 9 @ Wheeling Wes Banco Arena 7:30 PM
Saturday, April 10 @ Reading Sovereign Center 7:05 PM
Tuesday, April 13 @ Reading * Sovereign Center 7:05 PM
Wednesday, April 14 @ Wheeling * Wes Banco Arena 7:00 PM

* (if applicable)

LAST WEEK

Friday, April 2 vs. Johnstown Sovereign Center 7:05 PM

GAME NOTES: Trailing 2-0 after 40 minutes of play, the Royals salvaged their playoff lives winning in a shootout, 3-2. Captain Brad Church scored the game-winner in the shootout as Reading racked up a season-high 64 shots on goal, including 23 in the third period. The Royals finished the regular season with a 4-6-0 record against the Chiefs.

Saturday, April 3 vs. Toledo Sovereign Center 7:05 PM

GAME NOTES: The Royals clinched their first Kelly Cup playoff berth defeating Toledo, 3-2. Reading received three-point outings by forwards Judd Medak (2g, 1a) and Graig Mischler (3a), as they remained unbeaten in regulation against the Storm (4-0-2). With the win, Reading assured themselves of a playoff game in Johnstown on Monday.

Monday, April 5 @ Johnstown War Memorial 7:00 PM

GAME NOTES: David Masse (2G, PP, GW) and Lars Pettersen (2a) converted on two first period goals to help Reading beat Johnstown in the Kelly Cup wild card game in Johnstown. For the Royals, it was their first win in the War Memorial in five tries this season. Cody Rudkowsky stopped 32 of 33 shots to give the Royals their first playoff win in club history. With the win the Royals move on to battle the Wheeling Nailers in a best of five series.

ECHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE:
#9 Judd Medak 2GP TEAM RECORD: 2-0-0 STATS: 2-1-3 (+2) – Registered 3-pt. Effort vs. TOL
Medak came up big for his team when they needed it most, to clinch their very first playoff berth. The Vancouver native was held scoreless Friday night in a 3-2 shootout win over Johnstown, but rebounded Saturday with two goals and three points in a 3-2 regulation win versus Toledo. It was Medak' s team leading fifth three point game this season.
JUDD MEDAK 6'0" 200LBS HOMETOWN: VANCOUVER, BC DOB: 9-20-79
LAST YEAR: GREENVILLE (ECHL)/ CHICAGO (AHL) AMATEUR CLUB: UNIV. OF MINN. DULUTH (NCAA)

ECHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE:
#30 Cody Rudkowsky 2GP RECORD: 2-0-0 GAA: 1.92 SPCT: .918% TEAM RECORD: 2-0-0
Rudkowsky posted two big games this weekend to help his club clinch their first playoff berth. "Rudy" stopped 23 of 25 shots and five of five shooters in the shootout Friday night against the Chiefs. Saturday, he posted 22 saves in the Royals playoff clinching win over Toledo.
CODY RUDKOWSKY 6'1" 215LBS HOMETOWN: WILLINGDON, AB DOB: 7-21-78
LAST YEAR: TRENTON (ECHL)/ WORCESTER (AHL)/ ST. LOUIS (NHL) AMATEUR CLUB: SEATTLE (WHL)

ROYALS PREPARE FOR FIRST PLAYOFF GAME WITH "WHITE OUT NIGHT!"

The Reading Royals and Wheeling Nailers will meet in game three Saturday in their best of five Northern Division Semifinal series. The Royals are planning some major festivities prior to and during the game. The following is a list of activities:

3:30PM - Playoff Pep Rally at Saturn of Reading, includes the Zamboni, Slapshot, Royals players, Vince Angelo and the Y102 Van.

4:30PM - Zamboni Drive – The Royals Zamboni will drive from Saturn of Reading, through downtown Reading, and arrive at the Sovereign Center the "Jungle"

5:00PM - Live Remote from Y102 and Tailgate Party at the Sovereign Center! Take a Swing at the Nailers – Fans will have the opportunity to swing a sledgehammer at a Wheeling Nailers decorated vehicle for $1 (all proceeds go to benefit Royals Charities)

7:05PM - Puck Drops on game three between Reading and Wheeling – FANS ARE ENCOURAGED TO WEAR WHITE T-SHIRTS TO THE GAME for the first White Out Night Playoff Game presented by the Outside In Restaurant and Bar!

TRANSACTIONS:
4/2/2004 Add DEAN ARSENE (D) assigned by Hershey (AHL)
4/2/2004 Add DOUG MACIVER (D) activated of IR
4/3/2004 Delete EMERY OLAUSON (F) waived
4/5/2004 Add DOUG NOLAN (D) assigned from Manchester (AHL)
4/5/2004 Delete TOMAS SLOVAK (D) placed on 7-day IR
4/5/2004 Delete NICK LEES (F) placed on 7-day IR
4/5/2004 Add PAT NOECKER (G) emergency back-up goaltender
4/5/2004 Delete TOM LAWSON (D) recalled to Colorado (NHL)

TICKETS AND INFORMATION: The Reading Royals Box Office is open from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Sovereign Center. Individual tickets can be purchased at the Sovereign Center Box Office or at any TicketMaster location. To order tickets by phone, call 215-336-2000 or visit www.ticketmaster.com to purchase online. To book a group to a Royals home game call 610-898-7825.

ROYALS ON THE AIRWAVES: All Reading Royals regular season games, home and away, are broadcast on ESPN Radio, 1240AM and on the Royals website at www.royalshockey.com via Sportsjuice. Join the voice of the Royals, John Curtis for all the play-by-play action. The pre-game show comes your way approximately 30 minutes prior to the drop of the puck.

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