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ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Whacked By Chiefs, 6-2

March 3, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals (33-15-7=73) never really got it going tonight as the Johnstown Chiefs used three second period goals to pull away from a less-than-energetic Royals' squad that was unable to break up the shutout bid by the Chiefs until the 14:05 mark of the third period in a game that Johnstown ended up winning by a score of 6-2. Despite getting saddled with the loss, Royals' goaltender Cody Rudkowsky (17-5-3, 22/26, 2 empty net goals) was one of the few bright spots tonight for the Royals, who squandered an opportunity to clinch a playoff spot on this night.

After a scoreless first, Johnstown started their scoring spree at the 1:34 mark of the second, when John Toffey finished on a two-on-one break with J.B. Bittner, who slipped a nice saucer to Toffey in the left circle that he proceeded to bury under the bar for the 1-0 lead. Johnstown went up 2-0 on another breakaway, as a long pass from the defensive zone found Jean Desrochers at the offensive blue line. Desrochers had a clean break to the net and tried to take Rudkowsky to the backhand, but the Royals' goaltender not only made a brilliant stop on Desrochers, he also stoned Ian Manzano on the follow-up rebound. However, Rudkowsky could not stop the third shot-by Brandon Elliott-in the sequence after the Royals' defenders failed to clear the loose puck from the slot region. Johnstown built a 3-0 lead when Justin Kelly forced his way from behind the Royals' net to the top of the crease where he slipped one behind Rudkowsky at the 13:55 mark of the second. In the third, the Royals finally broke up the shutout bid by Johnstown's Morgan Cey when T.J. Kemp took control of a loose puck and carried it behind the Johnstown net. Kemp then fed Eric Werner, who had slipped low in the slot, and Werner ripped one by Cey on the short-side to make it 3-1, Johnstown, with 5:55 remaining. However, Johnstown came right back 31 seconds later when an ill-fated clearing attempt was intercepted in the neutral zone by Johnstown's Randy Rowe, who walked into the offensive zone and ripped a laser from the mid-slot that Rudkowsky had not chance on whatsoever. The Royals came back again with the sixth attacker on the ice when an offensive zone face-off win gave Kemp a chance to blast one from the top of the left circle. Cey stopped Kemp' bid, but Doug Christiansen followed on the rebound to make it 4-2 with just 2:06 remaining. However, once again, the Chiefs answered-this time with two empty net goals (one by Zbynek Hrdel and the other by Doug Andress)-to throw wet towel on whatever hope the Royals had in this one.

The Royals return to the Sovereign Center tomorrow night against the Trenton Titans (7:00 pm). The first 2000 fans will receive a Barry Brust bobblehead, commemorating Reading's fifth anniversary season, courtesy of Diamond Credit Union. Royals' game day broadcasts can be heard on ESPN Radio 1240 am in Ephrata and www.royalshockey.com with pre-game beginning 30 minutes before the opening face-off. Streaming video is also available through the Royals' website on a pay per view basis provided by B2 Networks.

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