ECHL Reading Royals

Royals split on the road against champs

February 9, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


The Reading Royals and Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies finished off five regular season meetings in Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City last weekend. The Royals picked up their win of the season in four tries versus Atlantic City on Friday night with a 4-1 decision. Cody Rudkowsky stopped 34 of 35 shots in the victory. Saturday, the Bullies got revenge sending the Royals away with a 5-2 defeat. Reading finished the regular season with a 1-3-1 mark in Boardwalk Hall. The two clubs will meet two more times in February and three times in March, all in the Sovereign Center in Reading, to finish off the ten-game regular season set.

The Royals will play their fourth four-game week this week beginning with the Trenton Titans in the Sovereign Center on Wednesday, February 11. The game is being presented by Reese and Associates. It's Sopranos night, if your name ends in a vowel save $1 off walk up ticket prices. Friday, the Royals finish off their regular season series with the Dayton Bombers. Reading returns home on the weekend to battle the Johnstown Chiefs and Cincinnati Cyclones.

LAST WEEK

Friday, February 6 @ Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall 7:05PM

GAME NOTES: The Royals picked up their first win of the season against Atlantic City with a convincing 4-1 victory. Reading converted on two-of-four power play opportunities en route to the win. Brad Church (2G, EN), Graig Mischler (1g, 1a) and David Masse (2a) each notched multiple point efforts in the victory.

Saturday, February 7 @ Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall 7:05PM

GAME NOTES: The Royals final visit to Boardwalk Hall ended on a sour note as the Bullies topped the Royals, 5-2. Scott Horvath scored two goals, while John Longo and Josh Prudden each had three helpers to lead the Bullies. Rookie goaltender Jake Moreland recorded the win in net stopping 35 shots.

THIS WEEK

Wednesday, February 11 vs. Trenton Sovereign Center 7:05PM

GAME NOTES: The Royals and Titans meet for the sixth time this season and third time in the Sovereign Center. The Royals have beaten the Titans four times in five tries. The Royals are 2-0-0 in the Sovereign Center in Reading. The Royals beat the Titans in the Jungle in their last outing three weeks ago, 4-1.

Friday, February 13 @ Dayton Nutter Center 7:00PM

GAME NOTES: Reading travels to the Nutter Center in Dayton for the final time this season. The Royals are a perfect 2-0-0 against the Bombers. Reading has outscored Dayton 16-3 in their earlier two outings. Reading has posted a season high eight goals at home and on the road versus the Bombers.

Saturday, January 14 vs. Johnstown Sovereign Center 7:05PM

GAME NOTES: Home ice has been essential in the battle for the Keystone Cup. The Chiefs have beaten the Royals three straight times and are a perfect 4-0-0 in the War Memorial in Johnstown. The Royals beat the Chiefs in back-to-back games in the Sovereign Center on January 2 & 3. Reading is 2-4-0 versus Johnstown this season.

Sunday, February 15 vs. Cincinnati Sovereign Center 5:05PM

GAME NOTES: The Royals have grabbed three of a possible four points against the Cyclones this season. Cincinnati scored with just 20-seconds remaining in their last outing to beat Reading in overtime, 4-3. The Royals beat the Cyclones in Reading on December 19, 5-2. The final meeting of four will be on March 26 in Cincinnati.

ECHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE:
#25 Brad Church
2GP TEAM RECORD: 1-1-0 STATS: 2-0-0 (-1)

Brad Church's two goals this weekend placed him in a tie for the team lead with Judd Medak (18 goals). Church also scored his team leading 10th power play tally over the weekend as the Royals split two games with Atlantic City.

BRAD CHURCH 6'1" 225LBS HOMETOWN: DAUPHIN, MB DOB: 11-14-76
LAST YEAR: RICHMOND (ECHL)/ CLEVELAND (AHL) AMATEUR CLUB: PRINCE ALBERT (WHL) DRAFT STATUS: 1995- WASHINGTON CAPITALS – 1ST ROUND – 17TH OVERALL

ECHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE:
#30 Cody Rudkowsky 2GP RECORD: 1-1-0 GAA: 3.00
SPCT: .910% TEAM RECORD: 1-0-0

Cody Rudkowsky picked up his 17th win of the season and the first for the Royals over the defending Kelly Cup Champion Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies. Friday, the Willingdon, Alberta native stopped 34 of 25 shots in a 4-1 win. The Bullies got even with Rudkowsky Saturday posting a 5-2 decision.

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)

TEAM STREAKS:
· Reading has the ECHL's best home mark (15-1-2)...The Royals have not lost in regulation at home since October 31.
· The Royals have won six straight at home...Reading has allowed just 26 goals in 18 home appearances (1.44)
· Reading has just three wins in their last 19 road games
· Royals rank 6th on the power play (20.1%) and 7th on the penalty kill (86.4%) in the ECHL
· Reading ranks 6th in GAA in the ECHL (2.54)
· Royals are 18-0-3 when leading after 2 periods

PLAYER STREAKS:
· #10 David Masse tallied a point or more in seven straight games since the All-Star break (2-8-10)
· #15 Graig Mischler has scored in eight straight games (4-11-15) and nine of ten (5-12-17) +4...He also leads the Royals with 12 multiple point efforts
· #25 Brad Church scored a goal in five straight home games (6g)
· #30 Cody Rudkowsky is 11-1-1 at home and has a 1.58 GAA and save percentage of .958

IN THE COMMUNITY: The Royals face off at Casa Grande each week during the season with Royals Weekly and Royals Roundtable. Royals Weekly can be heard live on ESPN Radio, 1240AM from Casa Grande at 6-7 p.m. This week's guests include: #4 Reagan Rome and #16 Peter Hay. Your calls are welcome at the show by dialing 866-ROY-ALS3!. FREE PRIZES ARE GIVEN AWAY TO THOSE WHO ATTEND FROM THE CINEMA CENTER OF READING, SCREPESI'S DELI, SUPERCUTS, HOLLYWOOD VIDEO, SENOR TACO, LABATT BLUE AND MORE!

Tuesday 2/10/04 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM @ VIVA Good Life Bistro & Lounge ROYALS CHARITIES LUNCHEON #22 Dave Stewart & #25 Brad Church

Monday 2/16/04 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM @ Cinema Center AUTOGRAPH SESSION #1 Peter Hammerlik & #31 Terry Denike

TRANSACTIONS:

2/03/2004 Delete JONATHAN ZION (D) traded to Greenville (ECHL)
2/03/2004 Delete NICK LENT (RW) traded to Greenville (ECHL)
2/05/2004 Add CHRIS LYNCH (F) traded from Greenville
2/05/2004 Add ERIC LIND (D) traded from Greenville
2/07/2004 Delete DAVID MASSE (LW) recalled to Hershey (AHL)
2/08/2004 Add DAVID MASSE (LW) assigned by Hershey (AHL)
2/08/2004 Add DEAN ARSENE (D) assigned by Hershey (AHL)

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. To book a group to a Royals home game call 610-898-7825.

ROYALS ON THE AIRWAVES: All Reading Royals 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 25 minutes before the drop of the puck.

ROYALS ITINERARY:

All times subject to change
Monday 10:00-11:15 a.m. practice at the Body Zone
Tuesday 10:00-11:15 a.m. practice at the Body Zone
Wednesday 10:00-10:30 a.m. morning skate; Royals vs. Trenton 7:05 p.m; depart for Dayton
Thursday Practice in Dayton TBA
Friday 11:00-11:30 a.m. morning skate; Royals @ Dayton 7:00 p.m
Saturday Royals vs. Johnstown 7:05 p.m.
Sunday Royals vs. Cincinnati 5:05 p.m.

Check out the Reading Royals Statistics



ECHL Stories from February 9, 2004


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