ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Quiet Storm with Early Burst, Win 4-2

Published on January 16, 2005 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA – Forwards Jon Francisco (1g, 1a) and Jeff Miles (1g) scored early in the first period on odd-man rushes to help lift Reading to a 4-2 win over Toldeo at the Sovereign Center.

Francisco netted an unassisted, shorthanded goal on a breakaway at 3:54, after he stole the puck from a Storm defenseman just inside the Toledo blue line. The Hermantown, Minnesota native then started the play that led to a two-on-one break, which Miles finished off. Forward Ryan Kinasewich (1a) recorded the primary assist on the game's second goal. With the game only 6:11 old, the Royals had a two-goal lead on their first three shots.

The two first period markers, which came 2:17 apart, were the fastest back-to-back tallies at home for Reading. The team has now won four straight on home ice, dating back to January 8 versus Wheeling. The Royals (21-10-3) are also unbeaten in five straight at home, setting a new season-high in that department, while moving to 2-0-1 against their division rival.

In the second stanza, the two teams traded goals. Toledo (18-14-3) struck first with an even-strength tally off the stick of center Rick Judson (1g). Judson smacked home a loose puck in the crease after the Storm hemmed the home team in its own zone for several minutes. Former Royal Scooter Smith (1a) and defenseman Andrew Oke (1a) registered the assists on Judson's eighth of the year, which came at 14:10. Reading regained the momentum moments later, when a Toledo defenseman fell in the offensive zone, allowing forward Graig Mischler (1g, 1a) to pick up the loose puck and streak in alone on Storm goaltender Scott Fankhouser. Mischler roofed his wrist shot over Fankhouser's left arm for his fourth of the season. The unassisted goal came at the 16:07 mark.

After 40 minutes of play, the shots were even at 14 apiece.

Royals' captain Cail MacLean all but secured the victory early in the third period, scoring on the power play, just 59 seconds into the frame. It was the veteran forward's seventh goal of the year and fourth while on the man advantage. Mischler and defenseman Tom Galvin (1a) got the assists. However, Toledo did not go quietly, cutting into the three-goal deficit at 11:14 of the period. Defenseman Jason Maleyko (1g), another former Reading player got credit for the marker, as winger Noah Whyte (1a) added the lone helper on the goal that gave the Storm some life. Goaltender Barry Brust (21 saves) shut the door the rest of the way for the home team to pick up his team-leading 12th win of the season. With the win, the Royals improved to 7-1-2 in January and 17-2-2 when scoring first.

Reading's next game is on Friday, January 22, as Trenton comes to town for the first of two straight meetings in the Sovereign Center. Faceoff is at 7:00 pm with the Classic Café pre-game show getting underway approximately 30 minutes before the puck drops. Listen live on the Royals' web site; www.royalshockey.com, or locally on ESPN Radio 1240.

Don't forget, Royals' fans, be sure to stop by the Classic Café – off Route 183 in Bern Township, just two miles north of the Reading Airport – on Monday, January 17, for Royals Weekly from 6-7 pm. Royals' enforcer Nick Greenough and defenseman Tom Galvin will be our guests. As always, Reading head coach Derek Clancey will be there answering questions from the fans.

Win prizes just for showing up! Royals Weekly can be heard on ESPN Radio, 1240 AM, or worldwide via the Royals' website.

ROYALS HOCKEY...BLEED PURPLE!

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ECHL Stories from January 16, 2005


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