Game 21 Preview: Wheeling at Reading

$5 Green Zone tickets as a special to our great fans

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals (11-7-2-0, 24 pts., T-3rd North) return home to face the Wheeling Nailers (12-7-2-0, 26 pts., T-1st North) and present $5 Green Zone tickets as a special holiday gift to our great fans Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. Reading also hosts a special postgame autograph session with the players, presented by Rieck’s Printing. Purchase $5 Tickets here.

The $5 tickets are part of a three-pack of $5 ticket games this month. Reading also presents $5 Green Zone tickets on Sun., Dec. 17 at 4:00 p.m. vs. Adirondack (dollar dogs and player photo) and Thurs., Dec. 28 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Worcester (special Flyers jerseys, aPHILLYation night).

This is the third straight game the Royals and Nailers meet. Through the first two, the Royals are 1-0-1-0.

Last game, Reading scored two goals in 14 seconds to tie the contest in the third period but Garrett Meurs scored in OT to secure a 5-4 Wheeling win.

Reading is next at home for a pair of home games against the Nailers on Fri., Dec. 15 and Sat., Dec. 16. On Dec. 16, it’s the annual Teddy Bear Toss game and Ugly Sweater Jerseys. Plus, the first 2,000 fans receive a Royals Christmas ornament, presented by Met-Ed.

Willows honoredMatt Willows of the Reading Royals is the Sher-Wood Hockey ECHL Player of the Week for Nov. 27-Dec. 3. This is the first Player of the Week honor for a Royals player this season.

It is the second time in Willows’ career that he has received the weekly honor.

Willows scored one goal and assisted on five others for six points in three games last week.

The 26-year-old notched two assists in a 4-3 loss at Cincinnati on Wednesday, had a goal and an assist in a 4-3 win at Wheeling on Friday and added a pair of assists in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Nailers on Saturday.

Suspension fallout

The ECHL announced Monday suspensions resulting from Reading’s last game against the Nailers. Two Wheeling players and Royals defenseman Loic Leduc will all be out for Wednesday’s game.1) Leduc was suspended three games as a result of his game misconduct for physical abuse of an official (Category III) under Rule #40.4 at 16:21 of the second period.2) Wheeling F Garrett Meurs was suspended for two games as a result of his tripping minor penalty to Royals D Chase Golightly in the second period. Meurs has served one game of the suspension.3) Wheeling D Jeff Taylor will miss the next four games and was suspended for five games after leaving the bench and receiving a game misconduct Saturday against Reading.

Last time outThe Royals overcame a two-goal deficit in the third period to force overtime in a 5-4 OTL to the Wheeling Nailers Saturday at Wesbanco Arena. Wheeling forward Garrett Meurs scored his first goal against the Royals in overtime. The Royals outshot Wheeling, 43-33.

In a 14-second span, Mark Naclerio and Chris McCarthy scored to even the game with nine minutes to go. Naclerio recorded his second multi-goal game of the season and is tied for a team-best nine goals.

The teams combined for 54 PIMs. Reading took a season-high 28 PIMs.

Head-to-head

Mark Naclerio scored two goals last game and is tops on the Royals with two goals and six points in the season series. Matt Willows is next, with two goals and five points.

Wheeling’s Hunter Fejes has scored four goals against the Royals in the last three games. Fejes has six points to best all Nailers in the season series. Cody Wydo has 15 goals and 26 points in 28 career games against the Royals. In the season series, he has three goals and five points.

Santa Sacks Holiday GiftStuff the stocking with Santa Sacks! Get an autographed Royals puck and come out to three of our biggest games for just $30.- Sat., Jan. 20 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Slapshot Star Wars bobblehead giveaway, THON Night, Star Wars jerseys)- Fri., Feb. 17 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Pink in the Rink, knit scarf giveaway)- Sat., Mar. 17 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Yannick Tifu number retired, Meet WWE Million Dollar Man)- Sat., Mar. 24 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Worcester (Kelly Cup Tribute puck giveaway, Autism Awareness jerseys)- Sat., Apr. 7 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Norfolk (FANdemonium, fan appreciation, fan’s choice giveaway)- Call 610-898-PUCK and tickets are available here.

More $5 TicketsThe Royals are pleased to announce $5 tickets in the Green Zone to three upcoming games in December!- Wed., 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.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.