Royals drop first game of season series to Thunder, 6-2

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals dropped consecutive home games for the first time in a 6-2 loss to the Adirondack Thunder Sunday at Santander Arena. The Royals are 9-3-0-0 at home, best in the North Division. Reading is 6-1-0-0 against Adirondack this season.

Adam Schmidt potted his fifth goal of the season to cut Adirondack’s edge to 3-1 midway through the second period. Mark Naclerio and Nolan Zajac had the assists. The fourth-year professional has scored in consecutive games. Reading fell behind, 5-1, early in the third on Adirondack’s second man-up tally. The Royals were 1-for-3 on the power play. Adirondack was 2-for-3 with a man edge.

Birthday boy Derek Whitmore scored to make it a three-goal game again at 6:49 of the third. All four of his goals have come against Adirondack. Whitmore is 33 years old, eldest on the Royals.

Adirondack’s Shane Conacher netted a three-point game (1g, 2a). Pierre-Luc Mercier had three assists.

Mark Dekanich (10 saves, 2 goals allowed) relieved Tyler Parks, who allowed three goals on 11 shots in the first. Chris Nell denied 36 shots in the win.

Reading is at Worcester on Wed., Dec. 20 at 7:00 p.m. Celebrate the holidays with the Royals vs. Manchester on Dec. 22-23 at 7:00 p.m. Season ticket holders receive a team license plate on Dec. 23, courtesy of Tower Health.

Box ScoreThe Thunder stunned Reading with three goals in the first. Terrance Wallin (6:20 of the first), Conacher (11:06) and Eric Neiley (PPG, 18:32) scored against Parks on 13 shots. Reading attempted eight shots on Nell.

Schmidt scored Reading’s first goal on the man up at 7:02 of the second. He received a pass from Naclerio at the right blue line while in stride and maneuvered net front. Schmidt beat Nell to the left post and backhanded it in.

Connor Riley drove net front and collided the puck in to make it 4-1 Thunder in the final half of the second. Dekanich made seven saves in the second.

Adirondack’s Ben Murphy smashed a power-play goal in at 1:44 of the third to make it 5-1 Thunder.

Reading scored five minutes later on a 3-on-2 rush. Hora cut up the middle and fed Huntebrinker at the right circle. He pitched it to Whitmore at the slot. Whitmore dragged and sniped it to the top right pocket at 6:37 of the third.

Paul Rodrigues scored into an empty net in the final minute to solidify the lead.

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.

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 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 host Worcester on Thurs., Dec. 28 at 7:00 p.m. and have $5 Green Zone Tickets. It’s A-PHILLY-ation night with special orange jerseys to celebrate our proud affiliation with the Flyers.- 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 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.