Dekanich, breakaways fool Thunder, 3-2

Glens Falls, NY – Mark Dekanich made 39 saves and the Reading Royals had two breakaway goals to bottle the Adirondack Thunder, 3-2, Saturday at Cool Insuring Arena.

Reading is 5-0-0-0 this season against Adirondack. The Royals are in third place in the North Division with 21 points.

The Royals scored the first two goals. Adam Schmidt tallied early in the first and Ryan Penny added a breakaway goal in the second. Dekanich made 28 saves in through the first two periods, including a pad-stacked stop at the left post midway through the second.

In the third, Matt Willows scored at 5:45 on a breakaway to make it 3-1 Reading. Adirondack’s James Henry tallied with 3:04 left on the power play (2-for-5), but Reading held off a few last-second chances.

Nick Riopel lost with 19 saves.

The Royals return home Sun., Nov. 26 against Wheeling at 4 p.m for a 4 for $44 Family Day. mini-stick giveaway and free postgame skate (details below).

Box Score

Schmidt scored for the second straight game at 5:49 of the first to open the scoring. Matt Wilkins was about to change, but flipped the puck in front of the Adirondack bench to Schmidt. The forward streaked across the line to the bottom of the left circle. Schmidt swooped net front, started to fall and flipped it past Riopel. He has three goals this season.

Penny extended the Royals lead to 2-0 with 10:37 to go in the second. Naclerio lifted it to Penny at the red line and he was all alone. Penny sniped it to the top left shelf for his sixth of the season. He is on a three-game point streak (2g, 1a). Adirondack’s Pierre-Luc Mercier scored on the man up with 3:44 left in the frame to pull within one.

Dekanich made 14 saves in the first.

Willows received a stretch pass from Nick Luukko and deposited his sixth of the season to make it 3-1 at 5:45 of the third. Willows faked to the backhand and slammed it on the forehand while working all alone.

Sunday, Nov. 26, the Royals host the Wheeling Nailers at 4 p.m. and are pleased to announce: Tickets are available here.

• 4 for $44 Family Day (4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 drinks)
• Kids mini-stick to the first 1,000 kids 14 and under, presented by Deibler Dental.
• Free postgame skate with the players, presented by Body Zone.

Cyber Monday!

Purchase a Purple Pride Five-Game Pack through Nov. 30 and add any two games for free from the list of following dates: Jan. 10 vs. Worcester, Jan. 24 vs. Toledo, Feb. 22 vs. Worcester, Mar. 14th vs. Fort Wayne and Apr. 4th vs. Worcester. Dinner is on us for the five-game pack!

It’s $69.95 for the pack plus five free dinners to each game of the Purple Pride Five-Game Pack.

Call (610) 898-PUCK (7825) and ask for your ticket guys to learn about the best deal in sports! Details for the Purple Pride Five-Game Pack can be found here https://royalshockey.com/purple-pride-5-game-pack/.

The Best Deal in SportsCall the Royals office at 610-898-PUCK (7825) and ask for your ticket guy to learn about the best deal in sports! It’s a five-game pack to Reading’s five-biggest games for $69.95, plus we’ll buy you dinner. Information:

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 App

Head 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 Coverage

All 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 are shown locally on BCTV, channel 15 Comcast, channel 19 Service Electric.