Power play strong in OT loss to Solar Bears, 4-3

Orlando, FL – Tyler Brown tied the game at three with 6:39 to go in the third but Orlando Solar Bears forward Martins Dzierkals netted the overtime winner on the extra session’s first shot, giving the Solar Bears a 4-3 victory Thursday at Amway Center. Reading is four points back of first place in the North Division and one behind Adirondack for second.

Dzierkals entered the zone up the middle, drifted behind the game, accelerated and put a wrap-around strike in that beat Mark Dekanich (OTL, 26 saves) at the right post.

Brown smacked the third-period tying goal in on the power play and Reading was 2-for-7 on the man up. The Royals have 10 power-play goals in the last seven games. Orlando was 0-for-4 on the man advantage.

The Solar Bears fought back after Mark Bennett opened the scoring nine minutes into the first period. Reading has tallied the game’s first goal in 16 of the last 17 games (11-3-3-0 record).

Orland scored three times in the second (Adam Phillips, JJ Piccinich and Hunter Fejes). Fejes broke a 2-2 score with 30 seconds left in the second.

Cal Heeter earned the win, stopping 23 shots.Box Score

Bennett had a strong opportunity before he potted the opening goal at 8:54 of the first. Initially, he received a pass at the left slot and banged it off a defender in front. It pinballed to him at the left slot on a feed from Michael Huntebrinker and Bennett gunned it to the top of the right shelf. The Oakville, ON native has two strikes with Reading this campaign.

The Royals allowed back-to-back goals to Phillips and Piccinich in the first five minutes of the second. Phillips scored at 1:13 and Piccinich sniped in a short-handed marker at 4:59 of the second on a high right-circle shot.

Willows scored his team-leading 23rd of the season on a 4-on-3 advantage. After a face-off victory, Ryan Penny fed to a gliding Willows at the left circle. Standing just outside the slot, the right-handed shot fired it in over the glove hand.

Orlando’s Fejes deflected in a Phillips shot that originated at the right blue line at 19:29 of the second.

Brown slammed the in the tying goal after chaos erupted in front of Orlando’s cage. With multiple sticks whacking away after a denial by Heeter on Chris McCarthy, Brown found it and dumped it in. He has five goals this season.

Reading is next at home on Wed., Mar. 14 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Fort Wayne, with four players hosting a postgame photo and autograph session, courtesy of Rieck’s Printing.

Enter for a chance to win $10,000 with the Reading Royals as the team hosts Brampton on St. HatTrick’s Day Sat., Mar. 17 vs. the Brampton Beast at 7:00 p.m. It’s an easy process; Step 1: purchase tickets to the game here | Step 2: Register to be entered into the contest here | Step 3: Watch a Royals player score a hat trick vs. Brampton.

Additionally, meet WWE’s Million Dollar Man and celebrate the holiday with the Royals, presented by Met-Ed! Royals legend Yannick Tifu will have his #10 retired to the Diamond Credit Union Wall of Honor during the game as. The first 5,000 fans will receive a Yannick Tifu poster, courtesy of Rieck’s Printing and Diamond Credit Union. The Royals will wear special St. Patrick’s Day jerseys. Tifu captained Reading to the team’s first Kelly Cup in 2013 and played in 245 Royals games, third-most in team history. Tickets are available here.

Season tickets for 2018-19 now available: Early Renewal through Mar. 15Call 610-898-7825 to join the Royals family or renew season tickets for the 2018-19 season. Early renewal and registration runs through Mar. 15. Top Early Renewal Benefits include: Extra chance to win jerseys-off-our-backs | Chance to win Owner's Suite | Chance to watch warm-ups from bench and high-five tunnel experience.

Royals Awards Banquet at Santander Arena Mar. 26Register here. Get a pregame pep talk from Royals Head Coach Kirk MacDonald, behind-the-scenes tour of the Royals locker room and buffet meal at Santander Arena Mon., Mar. 26 from 6-8 p.m. for the Royals Awards Banquet. We will hand out the best awards from the 2017-18 season.

Postgame autograph session Wed., Mar. 14 vs. FW at 7:00 p.m.Stay after the game for a special postgame autograph session on Wed., Mar. 14 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Fort Wayne, presented by Rieck’s Printing. It’s the only chance of the season to see the Komets.

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, channel 15 Comcast, channel 19 Service Electric.