Royals on the Road

Royals on the Road

Reading Kicks Off Fourteenth Season Tonight in Wheeling, Virginia against the Wheeling Nailers

Reading Royals @ Wheeling Nailers

WesBanco Arena (Wheeling, West Virginia)

Game Time:    7:35 pm et

Broadcast:  7:05 pm et

RADIO:  CBS Sports Radio (WIOV – AM) 1240 am and 98.5 fm in Reading

TELEVISION:  BCTV in Reading, PA

INTERNET:  NeuLion via www.RoyalsHockey.com

STREAMING VIDEO:    ECHL.TV powered by NeuLion

ROYALS QUICK NOTES

• The Royals kick off fourteenth season in the ECHL tonight (Inaugural Season: 2001-02).

• This marks the eleventh time in the fourteen year history of the Royals that the team has started the season on the road.

• This is the first time in team history that the Royals have opened the season in Wheeling.

• Reading did open the 2002-03 season against the Nailers, but that was at the then-Sovereign Center (now Santander Arena). The Royals won that game 7-3 with Scott Fankhouser in net.

• The Royals are 6 – 6 – 1 – 0  in the team’s thirteen prior season opening games.

• Tonight’s game is the 937th game in team history (484 – 363 – 89) (.565 win percentage)

• Last season, Reading went 46 – 22 – 2 – 2 (.667 win percentage) in the regular season, tying the team record for wins in a single year. The Royals won the Atlantic Division (fourth divisional title) and captured the team’s second consecutive Eastern Conference Title.

• On the road, Reading has compiled an historical record of 219 – 204 – 45 (.516 win percentage).

• Reading went 22 – 12 – 1 – 1 on the road last season. The twenty-two road victories tied the team record. The Royals have won twenty or more games on the road for the last four consecutive seasons (85 – 46 – 13).
• This is the first of twelve games this season against the Nailers (6 at home – 6 on the road).

• Reading has played Wheeling more than any other active team in the ECHL. This is the 132nd matchup in the two organization’s history. The Royals have a record of 75 – 43 – 13 against Wheeling.

• The Royals start the season with nine players who have previously played for the organization: Adam Comrie, Ryan Cruthers, Brett Flemming, Olivier Labelle, David Marshall, Bryant Molle, Kevin Walrod (21-Day Injured Reserve), Ian Watters, and Sean Wiles.

• The Royals have five players on the roster who are considered rookies in the ECHL (25 pro games or less): Dan Ford, Matt Hatch, Jordan Heywood, Brock Higgs, and Martin Ouellette.

• PLAYER MILESTONE: Tonight is the 400th career professional game for Ryan Cruthers (128g-218a=346pts, 477 pims). It is his 364th game in the ECHL (125g-214a=339pts, 452 pims). Cruthers is the all-time leading scorer for the Royals (71g- 152 =223pts in 212 games).

NEXT UP FOR THE ROYALS

Reading Royals @ Elmira Jackals

Friday, October 24, 2014 (7:05 pm)

NEXT UP FOR THE ROYALS @ Santander Arena in Reading, PA

Reading Royals v Elmira Jackals

Saturday, October 25, 2014 (7:05 pm)

NOTES ON HOME OPENER (Saturday, October 25, 2014)

The Royals open the 2014-15 season on Saturday (October 18) at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, West Virginia, where the team will face the Wheeling Nailers. Saturday’s game can be heard live on CBS Sports Radio WIOV-AM 1240 in Reading starting with the pre-game warm-up show at 7:05 pm—thirty minutes before the opening faceoff. Saturday’s game will also be televised locally in Berks County, Pennsylvania, on BCTV courtesy of Boscov’s Travel and Apple Vacations.

The home portion of the Royals’ schedule will kick off the following Saturday (October 25, 2014 @ 7:05 pm) when the Elmira Jackals travel to Santander Arena. That night, the Royals invite everyone in the Greater Reading Region and beyond to join us as we set sail on the Royals’ Fourteenth Year of Fun with the A Simply Smashing Royal Experience Block Party on Penn Street. The excitement will kick off directly in front of Santander Arena (700 Penn Street, Reading, PA) at 4:00 pm, three hours before the opening face-off for the home opener.

This year’s Simply Smashing Block Party will provide a heaping helping of a grand Royal Experience for everyone in the family, offering a number of participatory games (including a 30 foot inflatable and corn-hole competitions), a performance by a magician, and—this is where you can flex those biceps—a season-opening ‘Smash-a-Car’ courtesy of V&M Towing for your sledge-hammer swinging pleasure. Penn Street will be rocking with music courtesy of the WIOV van, and to keep your energy at maximum output for the long-haul, there will be great food available for purchase from Muddy’s Smokehouse BBQ and Chapman’s Deli Sandwiches, as well as other refreshments, including non-alcoholic beverages.

The Simply Smashing Royal Experience Block Party on Penn Street will feature appearances by all of your Royal favorites including Slapshot and Tiara. Fans will also have an opportunity to get a free smile from the brand new ice and promotional team, The Royal Ladies, who will be making their debut appearance for the 2014-15 season. The Royals also expect the renovation and expansion project of the team’s merchandise outlet, the Lion’s Den, to be completed by the home opener, so everyone can get properly geared up—and fired up—for the home opener against the Jackals.

Call 610-898-7825 for more information or log onto www.royalshockey.com.

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