Game 20 Preview: Reading at Wheeling

Team signs D Brad CampagnaRoyals play final road game before $5 tickets on Wednesday

Wheeling, WV – The Reading Royals (11-7-1-0, 23 pts., 3rd North) look to sweep the weekend at the division rival Wheeling Nailers (11-6-2-0, 24 pts., T-1st North) Saturday at 7:05 p.m. The Royals also host Wheeling on Wed., Dec. 6 at 7:00 p.m., the third straight game the foes meet. Wednesday’s game features $5 Green Zone tickets at Santander Arena, plus a special postgame autograph session with the players. It’s presented by Rieck’s Printing and tickets are available here.

The Royals have also signed D Brad Campagna to a standard player contract. Read more about Campagna below.

Friday, Reading scored a pair of man-up goals in the third period to surge to a 4-3 victory at Wheeling. Michael Huntebrinker had his first game-winning goal eight minutes into the third. John Muse made 14 saves in the third period.

Royals ink Campagna to contractReading had a seventh defenseman join the group Saturday by signing Brad Campagna from Fayetteville in the SPHL. Campgana scored a goal in 14 games and added 40 penalty minutes with Fayetteville this season. The 26-year-old captained SUNY-Potsdam (NCAA DIII) in 2015-16. He will wear #6.

Last season, the native of Monroe, NY had five assists in Fayetteville over 34 games.

Hard to sit ‘em

Michael Huntebrinker has points in consecutive games (1g, 1a) and notched his first game-winning goal in Friday’s win over Wheeling. Huntebrinker has seven points (4g) in 12 games this season.

The rookie sat the first five games of the season as a healthy scratch. Since then, he has missed just three games and suited up in nine consecutive contests.

Huntebrinker has four goals and ten points in 20 career games. The 2017 Minnesota State graduate is a native of Chesterfield, MO.

Last time out

The Royals power play caught fire in the third period, scoring on consecutive man-up chances to blast the Wheeling Nailers, 4-3, Friday at Wesbanco Arena.

Steven Swavely tied the game, 3-3, early in the third. Four minutes later, Michael Huntebrinker deflected a pass from Alex Krushelnyski in at the right post. Reading held on for the final 12 minutes. John Muse had 31 saves.

Matt Willows (1g, 1a) scored the opening goal. Wheeling held a 3-2 lead after two periods.

Alex Krushelnyski recorded a pair of points in his first game since being returned on loan from Lehigh Valley.

Tough to win there

The Nailers have recorded at least 20 wins at WesBanco Arena in four of the last five seasons. ECHL teams play 36 home games a season. The team is 5-1-1-0 at home this season. Wheeling picked up its 500th win at WesBanco Arena on Nov. 22 against Worcester.

Reading has 41 wins in 81 road games against Wheeling.

Flyers Flash

The Philadelphia Flyers (8-10-7, 23 points, 8th Metropolitan) have been off since Tuesday, when the team fell 3-1 to San Jose. Claude Giroux scored his 11th goal of the season, second on the squad to Sean Couturier (14g). Jakub Voracek paces the squad with 30 points and has nine points (3g) in seven games.

After a Saturday showdown with Boston, the Flyers swing to western Canada for three games at Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver.

Challenging at WesBanco

The Royals play Wheeling five times at WesBanco Arena this season and look for their second straight “winning” season in West Virginia. Last season, the Royals were 3-1-0-0 in Wheeling, the first time since 2013-14 the club had a winning record. Reading went 5-2-0-0 against the Nailers last season.

Since the start of 2014-15, including playoffs, the Royals are 18-20-0-0 against Wheeling.

All-time vs. Wheeling

Wheeling is Reading’s most-common active opponent. The Royals have 91 wins and the Nailers have 73 victories in the 17-year history (REA: 91-59-14 record).In the Royals’ next home game, it’s $5 tickets in the Green Zone as our special holiday gift to you! The team hosts a special postgame autograph session and takes on Wheeling on Wed., Dec. 6 at 7:00 p.m., presented by Rieck’s Printing. Tickets are available here.$5 TicketsThe Royals are pleased to announce $5 tickets in the Green Zone to three upcoming games in December! It’s our special holiday gift to you.

• , Dec. 6 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Wheeling (postgame autographs) | Sun., Dec. 17 at 4:00 p.m. vs. Adirondack (dollar dogs and player photo) | Thurs., Dec. 28 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Worcester (special Flyers jerseys, aPHILLYation night)
• Call 610-898-PUCK (7825) and tickets are available here.

Santa Sacks Holiday GiftThe Royals give you the chance to pick your dates and favorite games with Santa Sacks! Stuff the stocking with a free autographed puck and pick tickets to three dates for $30.

• , Jan. 20 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Worcester (Slapshot bobblehead giveaway, THON Night, Star Wars jerseys)
• , Feb. 17 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Pink in the Rink, knit scarf giveaway)
• , Mar. 17 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Yannick Tifu number retired, Meet WWE Million Dollar Man)
• , March 24 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Worcester (Kelly Cup Tribute puck giveaway, Autism Awareness jerseys)
• , Apr. 7 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Norfolk (FANdemonium, fan appreciation, fan’s choice giveaway)
• Call 610-898-PUCK (7825) and tickets are available here.

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 are shown locally on BCTV.