Riley Gill Repeats as Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week

For Second Week in a Row, Royals’ Netminder Takes League’s Weekly Award

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 Riley Gill has been named the Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week (03/18 – 03/24/13) for the second consecutive week. Gill, a third year pro from Northfield, Minnesota, went 3-0-0-0 with a 0.69 goals against average and a .973 save percentage in three appearances for the Royals last week. Gill’s performances this week included the Atlantic Division clinching win over the Fort Wayne Komets (8-2) on Wednesday. That night, Gill, who was removed with 5:10 remaining in regulation for safety precautions, allowed just one goal on 28 Komet shots. After sitting out in the Royals win over Evansville Icemen on Friday, Gill returned to the net on Saturday and led Reading to an Eastern Conference title clinching 3-1 win over the Toledo Walleye. He followed that up by making 31 saves to notch his third shutout in twelve games played with the Royals this year in a 2-0 victory over the Walleye. Overall this season, Gill, who has held the opposition to one goal or less in eight of the twelve games that he’s played for the Royals this season, has compiled a 1.18 goals against average and a .955 save percentage. He is currently riding a seven game win streak. Gill is the first goaltender in the twelve year history of the Royals to win the ECHL’s Goaltender of the Week Award in back-to-back weeks. Barry Brust won the award three times in the span of five weeks from March 14, 2005 through April 19, 2005 (which included one win during the playoffs). Cody Rudkowsky is the only other goaltender to win the weekly award twice for Reading. He did so, however, in separate seasons, once in November of 2003 and another time in November of 2004. This marks the third time this season that a Reading goaltender has received the Goaltender of the Week Award. Philipp Grubauer also received the award for his performance during the week of November 12 -18, 2012. It is the fifteenth time a Royals’ goaltender has won the weekly award. Gill is the eleventh different Reading goaltender to receive this recognition: Barry Brust (three times), Matt Dalton, Scott Fankhouser, Yutaka Fukufuji, Riley Gill (two times), Philipp Grubauer, Peter Hamerlik, Adam Hauser, John Murray, Michael Ouzas, and Cody Rudkowsky (two times). The Royals return home for the final two games of the regular season starting Thursday (March 28 @ 7:05 pm) against the Trenton Titans at the Sovereign Center in Reading, PA. That night, which is Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest Music Education Night, the first 5000 fans will get a team poster courtesy of Reading Eagle, which fans can get signed in a post-game autograph session. The game day broadcast on Thursday will kick off on CBS Sports Radio 1240 am and 98.5 fm at 6:35 pm with the Pre-Game Warm-Up Show presented by Steve Moyer Subaru. Royals Kelly Cup Playoff tickets are now on sale. The Eastern Conference Quarterfinals are scheduled to start at Sovereign Center in Reading, PA, on Friday, April 5, and Saturday, April 6. More information is 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.