Reading prepares for first playoff game Friday in Manchester
Reading, PA- The Reading Royals, proud ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, announced Wednesday the Lehigh Valley Phantoms have returned on loan goaltender John Muse to Reading. The Royals start their march to the Kelly Cup this Friday at 7:00 p.m. with Game 1 of the North Division Semifinals at Manchester. The series shifts to Reading for Game 3 on Mon., Apr. 16, Game 4 on Wed., Apr. 18 and Game 5 on Thurs., Apr. 19 (if necessary). All playoff games at Santander Arena start at 7:00 p.m. and tickets are available here.
Muse topped the ECHL with a .931 save percentage during the regular season, setting the Royals’ single-season record for any goalie to appear in at least 20 games. He accumulated a 19-5-1-0 mark and 2.24 goals against average (7th in ECHL). In 79 career ECHL games, the 29-year-old is 46-21-6-6 with a 2.72 goals against average and .914 save percentage.
The seventh-year professional is 11-2-1 with a 2.46 goals against average and .919 save percentage with Lehigh Valley this campaign. In his last Phantoms start, Muse blocked 32 of 35 shots in a 6-3 Phantoms triumph, helping the team clinch the AHL’s Atlantic Division. For his AHL career, the former two-time national champion at Boston College has picked up a 87-59-7 mark, nine shutouts, 2.64 goals against average and .915 save percentage.
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.
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.