
Royals Suffer Late Game Loss in Dayton, 4-3
December 1, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release
Dayton, OH - The Reading Royals (5-14-1= 11; 7th North Division) of the ECHL battled back from three separate deficits only to lose in the last minute to the Dayton Bombers, 4-3, at the E.J. Nutter Center in Dayton Ohio. The loss extends the Royals' losing streak to a season high five games and the team's winless streak to six (0-5-1). Goaltender Danny Taylor (loss, 3-12-1; 30/34) sustained the loss; while Tyler Plante (win; 3-3-1; 17/20) picked up his second straight win against the Royals. Kirk MacDonald scored a pair of power play goals for Reading to become the first player this season to have a multi-goal game for the Royals. Reading went 2 for 4 with the man advantage; the Bombers struck on their lone power play chance of the game (1-1).
Reading started the game with a strong push, but a couple of good saves by Plante including a sprawling a stop on Brock Hooton in the opening moments kept the game a zero-zero tie until Dayton broke through at the 13:25 mark of the first while the teams were playing four aside. Jim Henkemeyer created a turnover deep in Reading's end off with a strong fore-check, stole the puck and fed Mike Looby who skated into the high slot for a shot, which he fired through a Royal player, who had stepped up to front him, and into the upper right corner of the net.
The Royals tied the game early in the second when a long dump by Rob LaLonde ricocheted off the end wall where a hard-charging Hooton retrieved-and then turned a wheeled a back-hand from low in the right circle that went across the body of Plante and into the net for his sixth goal of the year. The Bombers re-took the lead at the 14:40 mark of the second, when Bryson Busniuk carried deep into the offensive end on the left wing side. Busniuk found the trailer Ryan Smyth floating through the slot. Smyth fired a low hard snap shot that beat Taylor to the glove side for his fifth of the year. The Royals tied the game again (at 2-2) while on the power play. Hooton fed LaLonde in the high slot who threw a wrister toward the net which MacDonald re-directed behind Plante for his sixth goal of the season.
Dayton took the lead (again) with a power play goal by Dan Riedel two minutes into the third period. Immediately after an offensive zone face-off-and nine seconds after the Bombers were awarded their first (and only) power play chance of the night-Riedel fired a snap shot out of the right circle that eluded Taylor for his tenth goal of the year. Reading tied the game (again) (3-3) at the 14:29 mark of the third with MacDonald's second power play goal of the night. LaLonde fired one on net, which was kicked out by Plante. Reading's Steve Ward swept into the right circle, took control of the rebound, and slid the puck under and through Plante, which hit the left pipe and was coming out. But MacDonald, who was planted at that goal post, jammed it in for his second of the night and seventh of the season.
The two teams played give-and-take down the stretch, with neither team appearing to be in much of a mood to give away a point. But as time ticked down, Dayton's Danny Lapointe threw a long shot on net. Taylor made the stick stop, but the rebound kicked above the crease to the right side of the Reading goal, where the Royals' defense failed to clear, creating a mad scramble for the puck, which resulted in a virtual tap in for Mike McLean at the left side of Reading's goal with only 54.9 seconds remaining. Unfortunately, that didn't leave the Royals much time to mount a fourth comeback, and the team's November record fell to 4-10-1.
The Royals start their December schedule on Wednesday night (December 3; 7:05 pm) when the Johnstown Chiefs visit the Sovereign Center in Reading. Wednesday'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.
ECHL Stories from December 1, 2008
- Reading Royals Weekly - Reading Royals
- Condors Top $3 million mark in cash, goods and services - Bakersfield Condors
- Grizzlies Head For Idaho; Home December 9 - Utah Grizzlies
- Condors Teddy Bear Toss brings in 7,614 stuffed animals, most in Condors history - Bakersfield Condors
- Game Preview: Ontario Reign Vs Alaska Aces - Ontario Reign
- 8,929 Condors fans donate record 7,614 stuffed animals at Teddy Bear Toss - Bakersfield Condors
- Steelheads To Retire Mylymok's #4 On Saturday - Idaho Steelheads
- Thunder Knock Off Alaska, Prepare for Reign, Falcons - Stockton Thunder
- Bombers Weekly News - Dayton Bombers
- Steelheads and Booster Club Host Marine Corps Toys for Tots Toss on Friday - Idaho Steelheads
- Dubuc Assigned to Rays - South Carolina Stingrays
- Lynx Acquire Mark O'Leary - Augusta Lynx
- RoadRunners Acquire Burnett From Trenton - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Everblades Have Record-Setting Week - ECHL
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Reign Weeklong Toy Drive For Steven's Hope Begins Monday - Ontario Reign
- Stingrays Weekly - South Carolina Stingrays
- Jackals Set For December - Elmira Jackals
- Gladiators Canned Food Drive a Success - Atlanta Gladiators
- Trenton Devils Weekly - Trenton Devils
- Florida Everblades Weekly - Florida Everblades
- Weekly Arrowhead - Johnstown Chiefs
- ECHL Mourns Loss Of Official Frank - ECHL
- Sea Wolves Weekly - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Phoenix Continues Series with Las Vegas This Week at Home - Phoenix RoadRunners
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Gladiators Weekly Update - Atlanta Gladiators
- Cyclones Win Four Straight - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Gladiators Acquire Fuller from Augusta - Atlanta Gladiators
- Royals Suffer Late Game Loss in Dayton, 4-3 - Reading Royals
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.
Other Recent Reading Royals Stories
- Royals Sign Kyle Haskins for 2025-26 Season
- Royals Announce 2025-26 Preseason Game
- Royals Re-Sign Connor McMenamin for 2025-26 Season
- Royals Send Qualifying Offers to Seven Players
- Royals Add Pat Noecker as Director of Merchandise, Promote Erik Jesberger to Director of Communications & Broadcasting

