Reading bombs Worcester, 6-2

Six Royals score, Willows nets three points

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals scored two goals separated by seven seconds early on and the Royals glided to a 6-2 victory over the Worcester Railers Thursday at Santander Arena. Six Royals scored and five had multi-point games. Matt Willows topped the squad with three points (1g, 2a). A joyous crowd of 4,093 watched Reading’s triumph.

Michael Huntebrinker started the scoring on the power play at 4:28 of the first. Jimmy DeVito potted seven seconds later, matching the fastest back-to-back goals in a Royals game this season. Chris McCarthy (1g, 1a) gave Reading a 3-0 edge six minutes later. The Royals led by two after one.

Frank Hora and Ryan Penny each had two assists.

Reading scored twice more in the second and led, 5-2, through 40 minutes. Adam Schmidt netted Reading’s second short-handed goal of the season.

John Muse made 37 saves in his first start since being returned on loan from Lehigh Valley. The Railers replaced Eamon McAdam (18 saves, 23 shots) after two periods. Mitch Gillam allowed a goal on seven shots in relief.

Box Score

Huntebrinker spiked one out of the air at the right post for the first goal on the man up. Willows centered it to him through the slot. The rookie Huntebrinker grabbed it out of the air and set it on the tee for a baseball shot and line drive into the back of the net. McCarthy received the second helper.

Off the ensuing face-off, Penny cut across the line and centered one for DeVito to score at the left post seven seconds later. Frank Hora had the second assist.

Hora once again factored in with great awareness for the third goal. Willows was open behind the defense and Hora threw it to him down the ice. It ricocheted into the left corner and Willows pitched it to McCarthy at the left post. He was wide open and slammed it in.

Woody Hudson scored with 2:57 to go in the first to cut the lead to 3-1.

Schmidt’s short-handed marker pushed the Royals to a 4-1 edge at 2:07 of the frame. After a Worcester giveaway, he snuck behind the defense, waggled at the bottom of the left circle, faked the backhanded shot and stuffed it far post to the top shelf for his sixth of the season.

Worcester managed their second marker with 6:35 to go in the period on Jeff Kubiak’s third of the campaign.

Nolan Zajac snapped in Reading’s fifth goal 30 seconds later. A pass from the bottom of the left circle wafted into the slot and Zajac stepped in to power it through MacAdam. Mark Naclerio had the second assist.

At 8:03 of the third, Willows smacked the puck in off a slot pass from Schmidt and Reading completed its scoring.

The Royals were 1-for-3 on the power play. Worcester was 0-for-4 on the man up.

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.

Royals three-game pack on sale!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 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 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.