Royals Continue Winning Ways in Elmira, 5-1

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Teams     Per: 1          2          3

REA:              1          2          2 =5

ELM:              1          0          0 =1

Records

REA: 2-1-0-0 = 4

ELM: 1-2-0-0 = 2

Goaltenders

REA: Ouellette (20/21) 2-0-0-0

ELM: Motte (28/32) 0-2-0-0 (58:58) (1 eng)

Power Play:

REA: 1-5

ELM: 0-3

Elmira, New York – The Reading Royals (­­­­­­­­­win, 2-1-0-0=4) of the ECHL, affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, defeated the Elmira Jackals (loss, 1-2-0-0=2), affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres, 5-1, at First Arena in Elmira, New York.

In the first of twelve games to be played this season between Reading and Elmira, the Royals’ Kevin Sundher, who last season played in Elmira, racked up a hattrick—including the game’s first goal and the game winner—(and had a four point performance) as the Royals pulled away from the Jackals for the team’s second win of the year. Reading scored first, and despite a quick bounce-back goal by Elmira, held the Jackals to just twenty-one shots, to run the team’s record to 14-1-3 in the last eighteen games played in Elmira.

Reading opened the scoring 7:49 into the first period just as the Jackals’ first penalty was about to expire. Rob Czarnik, who ended the game with three assists, set Justin Crandall at the goal line to the left of the Elmira net. Crandall went diagonal up through the box into the right circle, where Sundher set up for a quick one-timer that slipped under C.J. Motte for his first of the night.

Forty-one seconds later, Elmira tied the game at one when Jacob MacDonald went coast-to-coast down the left wing side and fired from an extremely sharp angle. MacDonald’s shot bulleted up and over Martin Ouellette for MacDonald’s first of the year.

Reading got what proved to be game winner at the 8:17 mark of the second period when Adam Comrie took a drop feed from Czarnik in the high slot and uncorked a bullet that went in and out of Motte’s glove. The loose puck fell to the top of the crease where Sundher had an easy tap-back for his second of the night.

The Royals got some insurance with 40.1 seconds left in the second, when Maxim Lamarche worked a give and go from the right point with Sundher. Lamarche walked down the slot and fired a low shot that snuck through Motte for his first of the season.

In the third period, the Jackals pushed hard; but the Royals held on thanks to some solid play from Ouellette and a willingness throughout the bench to block shots. Reading added an empty netter by Comrie with 1:10 left and finished the game on a beautiful one-time bullet by Sundher off the rush—on  a perfect set-up by Justin Crandall—to lock down the hattrick in his first game as a Royal.

Reading opens the home portion of the team’s schedule tomorrow (Saturday, October 24, @ 7:00 pm) when the Jackals visit Santander Arena in Reading. The Royals’ home opener will be preceded by a Block Party complete with a FREE concert by the Gin Blossoms. On Saturday, the 5000 fans will receive a Royals’ rally towel courtesy of Reading Health System; and fans will be entertained by the always whacky Fur Circus.

The game night broadcast for Saturday’s matchup can be heard live on CBS SportsRadio 1240 am and 98.5 in Reading, Pennsylvania, starting with the pre-game warm-up show presented by Highmark Blue Shield at 6:30 pm Eastern Time. Streaming audio is available free of charge on the Royals’ website (follow the ‘headset’ icon); and streaming video is available on a pay-per-view basis through ECHL.TV.

Season Tickets for the 2015-16 Reading Royals ECHL season are currently available.

For more information about the Royals, call 610-898-7825 or log onto www.royalshockey.com.

End 15 10-23