Game 2 Preview: Wheeling at Reading

Deibler Dental Royals puck giveaway to first 2,000 fans, 4 for $44 promotion

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals (1-0-0-0, 5th North) host the division foe Wheeling Nailers (3-0-0-0, 6 pts., 1st North) Sunday at 4 p.m. after an exciting opening-night win against the Adirondack Thunder.

Captain Derek Whitmore potted the overtime-winning goal seven seconds into the extra session on a breakaway, assisted by Ryan Penny. The goal was the second-fastest in ECHL overtime history. The Royals led Saturday’s affair, 4-0, before allowing four straight goals.

The first 2,000 fans at Santander Arena receive a specialty Royals puck, courtesy of Deibler Dental. Also check out the 4 for $44 deal, where you get four tickets, hot dogs, sodas and bags of chips for $44.

The Nailers are coming off a come-from-behind, 4-2 victory against Cincinnati Saturday. Wheeling scored the last four goals of the game.

The Royals continue their four-game home stand Thurs., Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. against the Toledo Walleye. To wrap up the weekend, the Royals meet up with Adirondack at Santander Arena on Sun., Oct. 29 for a 4 p.m. puck drop.

Second-fastest OT goalDerek Whitmore’s overtime tally seven seconds into the extra session against Adirondack was the second-fastest in the ECHL’s 30-year history. The mark was two seconds short of Mississippi’s Kent Davyduke’s goal at :05 of overtime against Louisiana.

The strike beat the Royals' previous record of an OT goal at 19 seconds. Whitmore, named Captain Friday, played in his first ECHL game against Adirondack.

A 10-year professional, Whitmore has 369 games of AHL experience (95 goals) and spent the last three seasons playing overseas in Europe. The native of Rochester, NY was an alternate captain with the Rochester Americans in 2011-12.

Comrie record watchAdam Comrie is three points away from matching the Royals defenseman points record (86, Simon Tremblay) and debuted with two assists Saturday against Adirondack. He is the Royals’ defensemen leader with 39 career goals.

This is Comrie’s fourth season with the Royals.

Overseas to Berks CountyDerek Whitmore (1g) and Adam Schmidt (2a) are each playing in the United States for the first time in four seasons and contributed offensively in Saturday’s victory against Adirondack.

Schmidt spent the last three seasons playing in Sweden, while Whitmore played two seasons in Germany (2014-15, 2016-17) and one in Austria (2015-16).

A native of Warrington, PA, Schmidt graduated from Holy Cross in 2014 and played in 14 games with the AHL’s Worcester Sharks before flying across the pond. Whitmore had two overseas stints, from 2014-17 and also in 2012-13 in Germany.

ECHL 30th anniversary The ECHL is celebrating its 30th anniversary for the 2017-18 season and the Reading Royals are in their 17th season. The Nailers are an original member of the ECHL and joined the league in 1988 as the Carolina Thunderbirds.

Scouting the NailersWheeling’s offense has scored at least four goals in every game, bouncing the squad to a 3-0-0-0 record and first place in the North Division.

After allowing the first two goals Saturday, Wheeling ripped off four straight. Fourth-year Nailer Derek Army scored in game-winning goal in the third on the power play. The Nailers pace the league with seven power-play goals (38.9%) and and Hunter Fejes leads the league with three. Conversely Wheeling has allowed six man-up goals and kills off just 57.1% percent of opponents’ chances (8-for-14).

In cage, Colin Stevens has allowed eight goals in two starts (2-0-0-0, 3.89 GAA, .896 sv.%).

Wheeling Head Coach Jeff Christian is in his second season with the club.

A lot of gamesThe Royals and Nailers have faced off 161 times, the most-common active Reading opponent. Reading holds an 89-58-14 mark against Wheeling and were 5-2-0-0 against the Nailers last season. In 2015-16, Wheeling took the season series 7-4-0-0.

This season, the Royals take on the Nailers 11 times, including six games at the Santander Arena. Between Nov. 26 and Dec. 16, the squads match six times during a nine-game Royals stretch.

Single-game tickets, group tickets, season tickets and mini-plans for the Royals’ 2017-18 ECHL season are available.

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

About the RoyalsThe Royals have been owned by serial entrepreneur Jack Gulati since 2014 and are in their 17th ECHL season. Proudly affiliated with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers and AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Reading plays in the Santander Arena, located in downtown Reading, PA at 700 Penn Street. The Royals won the Kelly Cup in 2013, have made the playoffs in eight straight seasons and are four-time division champions.

Reading Royals Mobile AppHead to the App Store and Google Play to download the new Reading Royals app on your smartphone! Stay up-to-date with team news, receive notifications and purchase tickets for your next experience at Santander Arena.

Broadcast CoverageAll Royals game can be heard on Rumba 1340 AM and the iHeartRadio app by searching “Rumba 1340”. The pregame show starts 15 minutes before puck drop. Watch Royals games on ECHL.tv. Reading away games locally on BCTV.