Swavely's Three Point Night Sinks Mariners in Reading
December 31, 2019 - ECHL (ECHL)
Maine Mariners News Release
READING, PA - Steven Swavely's three point night in his return from the AHL boosted the Reading Royals to a 5-3 win over the Maine Mariners on Tuesday night at Santander Arena. The Mariners got goals from Taylor Cammarata, Ted Hart, and newcomer Eddie Matsushima.
The Mariners struck early at 4:29 of the first period, converting just five seconds into the game's first power play. Ty Ronning faked a shot from the point and put a puck right on Taylor Cammarata's tape to give the Mariners a 1-0 lead. Sean Day picked up the secondary helper. Reading built a significant shot advantage but remained down 1-0 until the 16:08 mark, when Garret Cockerill's shot from the point beat the stick side of Connor LaCouvee to tie the game. Steven Swavely, just down from AHL Lehigh Valley, had an assist on the game-tying goal and would put the Royals ahead just over three minutes later. Frank DiChiara rushed down the right wing and fired a shot off LaCouvee's pad that rebounded right to Swavely in the slot at 19:10. Reading outshot Maine 14-11 in the first for their 2-1 lead.
Just two minutes into the third, Reading scored their third in a row when Cockerill found Brayden Low driving the net to make it 3-1. The Mariners closed the gap back to one at 8:09, Ted Hart cleaning up Scott Savage's point shot. The Mariners then had a two-man advantage for over a minute thanks to penalties from Trevor Gooch and Garrett Mitchell, but couldn't convert. Mitchell immediately joined the rush out of the penalty box and set up Swavely for his second goal of the game. The Royals added insurance at 15:37 when Matt Strome scored on the power play.
At 9:09 of the third, the Mariners got one back on Eddie Matsushima's first ECHL goal in his Mariners debut. Matsushima finished a wraparound from behind the net, off the skate of Royals goaltender Kirill Ustimenko. Matsushima was signed to a SPC from the Pensacola Ice Flyers on Monday, and had previously played two ECHL games with the Orlando Solar Bears earlier this month. The Mariners pulled LaCouvee with just over two minutes to go but could not get any closer. Ustimenko and LaCouvee each stopped 26 shots.
The Mariners return to the Cross Insurance Arena starting this weekend to play six of their first seven games of 2020 on home ice. Friday, January 3rd against the Jacksonville Ice Men is a 1-2-3 Friday, featuring $1 Aquafina water, $2 Pepsi products, and $3 Bud Lights through the start of the 2nd period. It's also Bath Savings night, with puck dropping at 7:15 PM. Saturday, January 4th is "Hockey Day in Maine" featuring a doubleheader that begins with the University of Maine men's hockey team hosting the University of Nebraska-Omaha at noon. The Mariners and Jacksonville follow with a game at 6 PM. Hockey Day in Maine packages are available at MarinersOfMaine.com which include discounted tickets to both games plus special Hockey Day in Maine collectibles. It's also "Witchcraft and Wizardry Night."
Groups of 10 or more can get discounted tickets to all games by calling 833-GO-MAINE. Individual tickets can be purchased at MarinersOfMaine.com, at the Trusted Choice Box Office inside the Cross Insurance Arena, or by calling 207-775-3458.
ECHL Stories from December 31, 2019
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- Anthony Nellis' Hat-Trick Sends Steelheads to New Year with 6-5 Overtime Win - Idaho Steelheads
- Dubeau Steals the Thunder as Beast Spoil New Years Eve in Glens Falls - Brampton Beast
- Swamp Rabbits Run out of Time on New Year's Eve - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Wings Winning Streak Snapped by Fuel on New Year's Eve - Kalamazoo Wings
- Cyclones Close Book on 2019 with Home Win - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Nailers Roll Norfolk, 6-1 to Finish the Decade - Wheeling Nailers
- Mavericks Set Franchise Attendance Record on New Year's Eve - Kansas City Mavericks
- Indy Closes out the Decade with a Touchdown on Kalamazoo - Indy Fuel
- Thunder Put Together 46 Shot Effort in 5-2 Loss to Beast - Adirondack Thunder
- Swavely Wishes Fans 'Happy New Year' with 2 Goals for 5-3 Win - Reading Royals
- Swavely's Three Point Night Sinks Mariners in Reading - Maine Mariners
- Growlers Win Twelve Straight Games at Mile One Centre - Newfoundland Growlers
- Steelheads Sign Forward Matt Ustaski - Idaho Steelheads
- Railers End 2019 with 4-3 Overtime Loss in Newfoundland - Worcester Railers HC
- IceMen Acquire Defenseman Trey Phillips; Outhouse Returns - Jacksonville Icemen
- Berschbach Collects ECHL Player of the Week Honors - Toledo Walleye
- Walleye's Berschbach Named Player of the Week - Toledo Walleye
- Toledo's Berschbach Named Inglasco/ECHL Player of the Week - ECHL
- Steelheads Weekly - December 30, 2019 - Idaho Steelheads
- Thunder Signs Rookie Forward Melton - Wichita Thunder
- Parsons Takes Home Warrior Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week Honors - Kansas City Mavericks
- Kansas City's Parsons Named Warrior Hockey/ECHL Goaltender of the Week - ECHL
- Admirals Close out the Year against Wheeling - Norfolk Admirals
- Royals' New Year's Eve Game Starts at 4:00 p.m. - Reading Royals
- Strome Reassigned to Reading, Swavely and de Haas Loaned to Royals - Reading Royals
- Lopsided Third Period Lifts Grizzlies over Oilers - Tulsa Oilers
- Grizzlies Complete 3-Game Sweep - Utah Grizzlies
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