Game 31 Preview: Adirondack at Reading

Marvel Super Hero Night, special jerseys, puck giveaway      

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals (15-13-2-0, 32 pts., 4th North) host Marvel Super Hero Night and wear Captain America jerseys in a showdown with the Adirondack Thunder (16-13-1-1, 34 pts., T-2nd North) Saturday at 7:00 p.m. The Royals will give away a Marvel Comic Super Hero Commemorative Puck to the first 2,500 fans (Tower Health). The Thunder will wear Ultron Jerseys.

The Royals ran away from the Railers, 6-2, on Thursday. Six Royals scored. Adirondack won their last game against first-place Manchester, 3-1, on Wednesday. The Royals drew 4,093 fans, the third-largest crowd of the season at Santander Arena.

Reading is finishing up a four-game home stand and is 1-2-0-0 through the first three.

The Royals and Thunder rematch at 5:00 p.m. on New Year’s Eve in Glens Falls, NY. Coverage begins at 4:45 p.m. on Rumba 1340 and BCTV with Royals Pregame.

Post-Christmas turn upThe Royals are 1-0-0-0 since returning from this season’s holiday break. Reading has used the time off to increase their level of play in four of the last five years. Last season, the squad went 13-3-0-1 after returning from Christmas to boost to 28-14-1-2 and second in the North Division. The run included a five-game win streak. Nick Luukko was a team-best plus-17 from Dec. 26 – Feb. 4.

During 2014-15, the Royals accrued 12 consecutive wins in an 18-4-0-0 stretch after the holidays. The 2013-14 team demolished opponents during a 10-3-0-0 post-Christmas jaunt which included a seven-game winning streak. The season before, Reading came out on first with five wins in six games after the holidays.

Frank is a “plus”Defenseman Frank Hora added his sixth assist of the season against Worcester in a 6-2 win Thursday. A 21-year-old from Cheektowaga, NY, Hora is a team-best plus-10 in 23 games.

Hora played in three games with Lehigh Valley earlier this season and was a plus-six, meaning he has a plus-16 rating in 26 games this season. He captained the Kitchener Rangers last season and also spent three games in the AHL with Cleveland. Hora was a plus-12 in 241 OHL games.

Hora and defensive partner James de Haas were plus-5’s on Nov. 11 vs. Jacksonville, tied for a Royals best this season.

Hulk to Captain America transformationThe Royals have worn The Incredible Hulk jerseys twice this season as part of the ECHL’s Marvel Super Hero Night promotion. Reading is 1-1-0-0 in the green uniforms. The Royals showed their might in a 3-2 win at Adirondack (Thor jerseys) on Nov. 25. Reading’s “balanced powers” were evident with three goal scorers and 37 saves from Mark Dekanich.

On Nov. 19, Reading lost, 5-4, to Brampton (Iron Man) despite a “heroic” effort from Alex Krushelnyski (2g).

The ECHL announced its partnership with Marvel in October. All 27 teams host a game this season wearing Super Hero jerseys.

Royals sign ClelandThe Reading Royals announced Friday defenseman Matias Cleland has been reassigned to the Royals from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. This is Cleland’s rookie season. He spent the beginning half of the campaign with the Orlando Solar Bears and registered three points (1g, 2a) in 25 games.

Catching up on the roster movesThe Royals have made six roster moves since returning from the holiday break. Here’s what you need to know:AdditionsG John Muse (returned on loan from Lehigh Valley)D Tim Boyle (signed contract)D Matias Cleland (reassigned to Royals by Toronto Marlies)SubtractionsD Adam Comrie (signed PTO with Utica Comets)D Loic Leduc (suspended from team)G Tyler Parks (released)

Head to headThe Royals are 6-1-0-0 against the Thunder this season but dropped the last meeting, 6-2. Matt Willows tops the Royals with 10 points (3g) against Adirondack. Ryan Penny has five goals in the series. Captain Derek Whitmore has four goals this season, all against the Thunder.

Reading’s Mark Dekanich is 3-0-0-0 against Adirondack in four games and has allowed eight goals.

Scouting AdirondackShane Conacher (21 pts.) was returned on loan from the Syracuse Crunch Friday, rejoining an Adirondack offense that boasts seven players with at least 20 points. Ty Loney tops the team with 15 goals and 24 points and has also spent time with the Crunch.

Pierre Luc-Mercier (3a), Eric Neiley (1g, 2a) and Conor Riley (1g, 2a) all had three points last game against the Royals.

Nick Riopel earned his ninth win of the season Wednesday against Manchester with 20 saves. He is 9-9-1-0 with a 3.28 goals against average and .897 save percentage.

Hero Night on Sat., Dec. 30The Royals will wear Captain America jerseys and meet your favorite hero on the concourse on Sat., Dec. 30 at 7:00 p.m. Reading battles the Adirondack Thunder, who will wear Ultron Jerseys.

Meet Jerry “The King” Lawler on Wrestling Night Jan. 5Meet wrestling legend Jerry “The King” Lawler at Santander Arena and watch the Royals battle the Brampton Beast on Fri., Jan. 5 at 7:00 p.m.

Mental Health Awareness Night and Kelly Cup Puck Giveaway Jan. 6Sat., Jan 6 vs. WOR at 7 p.m.: Kelly Cup Tribute Championship puck to the first 2,000 fans courtesy of Berks-Schuylkill Oil Heat Association.Dollar Dogs and Postgame skate Jan. 7Sun., Jan 7 vs. WOR at 4 p.m.: Dollar dog day presented by Safe Berks, Berks Packing and Coca-Cola, and a postgame skate presented by Body Zone.

Tickets to three of our biggest games for $30Get 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 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.

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.