Philipp Grubauer and Denny Urban Selected in 2013 ECHL All-Star Game

Goaltender and Defenseman Mark First Time for Two Royals to be Chosen as All-Star Starters

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals of the ECHL, affiliate of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League and the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, today announced that goaltender Philipp Grubauer and defenseman Denny Urban have been selected as starters for the ECHL All-Star Team that will take on the Colorado Eagles in the league’s annual All-Star Classic scheduled for Wednesday, January 23, 2013, at the Budweiser Event Center in Loveland, Colorado. This marks the first time in team history that Reading has had two players selected to start in the ECHL’s All-Star game. Grubauer and Urban join Simon Tremblay (2003), Jonathan Zion (2004), and Ben Gordon (2010), as Royals who have been selected as All-Star starters. The Royals current captain, Yannick Tifu, started the 2008 ECHL All-Star game as a representative of the Dayton Bombers. Grubauer, a second year pro from Rosenheim, Germany, has compiled a record of 18-4-1-0 in twenty-four appearances this season for the Royals. Grubauer, who is 18-1-1-0 in his last twenty starts, has the fourth best goals against average in the league at 2.28 and a .912 save percentage. A fourth round pick of the Washington Capitals in 2010, Grubauer has won forty-one total games in the ECHL over the past two seasons. He has twice been selected as the ECHL Goaltender of the Month (November of 2011 and November 2012). Grubauer, who has held the opposition two goals or less thirteen times this season, is currently riding a nine game unbeaten streak (8-0-1-0, 2.32, .917). Earlier this season, he set a team record when he became the first goaltender in team history to win ten consecutive games (11/02 – 11/28/12). In his lone appearance in the AHL, Grubauer made twenty-four saves in a 2-1 overtime loss for the Hershey Bears against the Binghamton Senators on October 21, 2012. Grubauer is the first goaltender in Royals’ team history to be selected to start an ECHL All-Star Game. He joins Barry Brust (2005), Cody Rudkowsky (2006), and Ben Scrivens (2010) as the fourth Royals’ goaltender selected to play in the mid-season classic. Urban, a second year pro from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, leads all defensemen in the league with twenty-six points (13g-13a) in 31 games with the Royals. Urban, who is currently on loan to the Worcester Sharks of the AHL, leads the Royals with thirteen goals, five of which have been scored on the power play (tied for team lead) and three of which have proven to be game winners (also tied for team lead). Urban, who played 113 consecutive regular season games with the Royals since joining the team in March of 2011 prior to his first loan to Worcester earlier in December, has generated 91 shots on goal this season, which is second most amongst defensemen. Last season, Urban set a team record with forty-seven points (12g-35a) in seventy-two games with the Royals and was selected as the team’s Rookie and Ironman of the Year. Urban is the seventeenth skater (including alternates) in team history to be selected to play in the ECHL All-Star game, joining Simon Tremblay (twice) (2002 and 2003), Brian McCullough (2003), Brad Rooney (2003), Jonathan Zion (2004), David Masse (2004), Jeff Miles (2005), Jon Francisco (2005), Ryan Kinasewich (2005), T.J. Kemp (2006), Greg Hogeboom (twice) (2006 and 2007), Mike Kompon (2006), Brett Hemmingway (2008), Tyler Doig (2009), Steve Ward (2009), Ben Gordon (2010), and John Scrymgeour (2011). The Royals return to action on Friday, January 4 @ 7:05 pm, when the team travels to First Arena in Elmira, New York to take on the Elmira Jackals. As with all Royals road games this season, Friday’s game will be televised locally in Berks County on BCTV courtesy of Boscov’s Travel and Apple Vacations. The Game Night Broadcast kicks off at 6:35 pm on Sports Radio 1240 am and 98.5 fm. Royals multi-game flex plans for the 2012-13 season presented by Steve Moyer Subaru are available at 610-898-7825 and through the Royals website: www.royalshockey.com. Don't forget to "Like" us on Facebook at Reading Royals and "Follow" us on Twitter @RRoyalshockey for the latest team information.