Former Royal Philipp Grubauer Makes NHL Debut

Second Year Pro Becomes Twenty-Third Player to Advance From Reading to the NHL

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 became the twenty-third player in Royals’ team history to advance from Reading to the NHL last night when he came on in substitution of goaltender Braden Holtby in the Capitals' 4-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Grubauer made all fourteen saves he was called upon to make for Washington in 25:05 of game time last night. Grubauer, a second year pro from Rosenheim, Germany, is the second former Royal to make his NHL debut this season, joining forward Antoine Roussel of the Dallas Stars. Grubauer, who started the season in Reading and went 19-5-1-0 in twenty-six appearances for the Royals, is the seventh Royal to play in Reading and the NHL in the same season, joining Mathieu Chouinard, Ryan Flinn, Yutaka Fukufuji, Jonathan Quick, Jussi Rynnas, and Danny Taylor in that regard. The Royals continue a three game road trip in Florida tonight (Thursday, February 28 @ 7:30 pm) against the Orlando Solar Bears at Amway Center, in Orlando, Florida. The Game Day Broadcast tonight kicks off at 7:00 pm on CBS Sports Radio (1240 am and 98.5 fm). As with all Royals road games, Wednesday’s game will be televised locally in Berks County, Pennsylvania, on BCTV courtesy of Boscov’s Travel and Apple Vacations. 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!