ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Power To Win In Johnstown, 6-2

Published on November 11, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Johnstown, PA - The Reading Royals (7-5-0=14, 1st North Division) special teams struck for three power play goals and one short-handed goal, as the Royals defeated the Johnstown Chiefs, 6-2, at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Christ Blight scored four consecutive goals-including the game winner-as he became the second player in Royals' team history to rack up a four-goal game. Goaltender, Jon Quick (6-5-0; 19/21), picked up the bounce-back win for the Royals, who were defeated by an identical score in Wheeling the night before.

Reading struck first 2:07 into the game, when Kevin Schaeffer rimmed a puck out of the Royals' defensive zone into the neutral area. Ned Lukacevic came hard through the center circle, picked up the loose puck and blew by everyone for a clean break on goaltender Ryan Nie (5-2-0; 15/21). Lukacevic got Nie to commit and went top shelf for his fifth goal of the year-and second in two nights. Johnstown tied the game at two at the 9:18 mark of the second while on the power play when Jean Desrochers fired a beautiful back-door pass to defensemen Mike Knight who jumped low into the left circle and finished for his second goal of the year.

The Royals struck for the team's first power play goal of the night, while playing with a five-on-three skater advantage, thirty-one seconds into the second period. P.J. Atherton ripped a blast from the high slot that ricocheted off the end wall back to the right side of the net where Bracken Kearns took control and quickly fed Blight on the back door for the tap in goal to give Reading a 2-1 lead. Johnstown tied the game at two at the 5:46 mark of the second, when a neutral zone turnover resulted in a transition rush for the Chiefs. Alexander Imbeault fed Andrew Martens who carried deep on the left wing side and threw the puck from below the goal line to the front of the net where it appeared to strike one of Reading's back checking defensemen and slip in the net to make it 2-2. The Royals responded with an even strength goal 2:23 later, when Joe Zappala took control in the defensive zone, charged through the neutral zone and into the offensive end. Blight joined the rush on the right side, and Zappala was able to slip a saucer through the lone defender and Blight blasted it home for his second of the night and sixth of the season. Blight scored his third of the game-and the Royals second power play goal of the game-at the 14:09 mark of the second to give the Royals a 4-2 lead. Drew Bagnall blasted a slapshot from the high slot that was blocked by a Chief forward, but the puck fell free in the mid-slot where Blight quickly fired the puck past Nie to make it 4-2 Reading.

In the third, the Royals appeared to shift the focus to simple, smart and solid defense; but still were able to add a couple of goals down the stretch, including a short-handed goal by Blight. As Johnstown sought to move through the neutral zone with the man advantage, they chipped the puck off the wall in the neutral zone. The puck hit a linesman however and fell to the stick of Kearns, who fed Blight who, in turn, took off for the Johnstown net. Blight finished five-hole on Nie to tie the Royals' team record (set by Shay Stephenson on November 19, 2005) with his fourth consecutive goal of the night and his eighth of the season at the 12:30 mark of the third. Reading made it 6-2 with 5:16 remaining when Malcolm MacMillan started a rush up ice by feeding Kevin Saurette with a behind the back pass. Saurette found Patrick Jarrett, who stepped in the offensive end and ripped a rocket that beat Nie low to the glove side for his second goal of the year. After that, the Royals' theme returned to simple, smart and solid defense, as Reading closed out the remaining time for the team's fifth road win of the year (5-4-0).

The Royals return home tomorrow (Sunday, November 10, 5:05) when the Dayton Bombers visit the Sovereign Center for the first time this season. The Royals will honor our service men and women on Veterans' Day with Military Appreciation Day presented by the U.S. Army. The first 2500 fans will receive a 'Support the Troops' magnet. The game night radio broadcast will begin at 7:05 pm with the pre-game warm-up show on ESPN Radio 1240 am and on the internet at www.royalshockey.com. Streaming video is available on a pay per view basis through the B2 Networks.

Check out the Reading Royals Statistics

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



ECHL Stories from November 11, 2007


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