Weekly Release, Vol. 17, No. 25:

Royals start playoff series at Manchester Friday

Quote of the WeekCarrot River, SK native Pat Wellar on the tragic bus crash involving the Humboldt Broncos team bus. The Royals raised hundreds of dollars for the families of those affected at Saturday’s game.

“We take for granted every time we step on the bus our safety. It’s very tough. I know small-town Saskatchewan first-hand will come together. Everyone in the hockey world, our thoughts are with them. I think we owe it to the game and to those players. We’re lucky enough to play.”

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals finished third in the ECHL’s North Division to clinch a playoff matchup with the second-seed Manchester Monarchs in the 2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs North Division Semifinals. The series begins at Manchester Friday and Saturday and moves to Santander Arena Apr. 16 at 7:00 p.m. and Apr. 18 at 7:00 p.m. for games 3 and 4. The Royals will host Game 5 on Thurs., Apr. 19 at 7:00 p.m., if necessary. All series in the Kelly Cup Playoffs are a best-of-seven format. The Royals’ playoff roster will be announced after 3:00 p.m. Monday.

Tickets are now available for the Royals’ home playoff games by calling 610-898-7825. The Royals are offering 5 playoff vouchers starting at $85. Use the five vouchers at any home playoff games. The team is also providing curbside ticket service; call 610-898-7825 and a Royals ticket staff member will provide you with your tickets outside the Lion’s Den Team Store at the corner of 8th Ave. and Penn St.

Saturday, the Royals finished the regular season in front of its largest crowd of the campaign (6,317) and triumphed over Norfolk, 5-2. Reading won two straight to end the regular season and earned points in six of seven games (5-1-1-0). The Royals were 39-24-9-0 (87 points), while the Monarchs achieved 88 points with a 41-25-3-3 record. The winner of this series faces Adirondack (88 points) or Worcester (82) in the North Division Finals.

Matt Willows completed his career season with five points last week, finishing 6th in the league with 32 goals and fourth at 74 points. Four Royals skaters recorded at least 20 goals.

Big 3 Storylines3) First meeting  2018 marks the first-ever playoff meeting between the Royals and Monarchs. Both teams were founded in 2001 and the Monarchs competed in the AHL from 2001-15. Each team has one championship; Reading won the 2013 Kelly Cup and Manchester took the 2015 Calder Cup (AHL) the season before moving to the ECHL.

The Royals have made the playoffs in 13 of 17 campaigns, while the Monarchs have missed the postseason once in their 17 seasons between the ECHL and AHL.

From 2001-08, the Royals were the ECHL affiliate of Manchester (AHL) and the Los Angeles Kings.

2) AdvancementThe Royals have advanced to the second round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs eight times in team history. The last time Reading went past round one was 2016, when the club fell to Wheeling in the second round.

In Manchester’s first two ECHL postseason appearances, the club has been eliminated in the first round once. Last campaign, the Monarchs made it to the Eastern Conference Finals and lost to South Carolina.

1) Roster is here

The Royals have announced the team's 2018 Playoff roster.

Regular season team leaders (active players)Goals: Matt Willows (32), Chris McCarthy (22), Michael Huntebrinker/Matt Wilkins (20)Assists: Matt Willows (42), Chris McCarthy (38), Nolan Zajac (28)Points: Matt Willows (74), Chris McCarthy (60), Matt Wilkins (47)PIMs: Matt Wilkins (53), Ryan Penny (51), Nick Luukko (50)+/-: Matt Wilkins (16), Brian Morgan/Matias Cleland (13)

Practice scheduleTuesday – 11:00 a.m, Santander ArenaWednesday – TBD, Travel to ManchesterThursday – Practice at ManchesterFriday –Game at 7:00 p.m. at ManchesterSaturday – Game 6:00 p.m. at ManchesterSunday – OFF Day

Royals Radio Recon: Next Show Mon., Apr. 9Live from Jimmy G’s Railroad House from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.Meet Royals forward Matt Willows Head Coach Kirk MacDonald at Jimmy G’s Railroad House, 152 Woodrow Ave., Sinking Spring, PA. Listen on rumbareading.com and Rumba 1340 (iHeartRadio app). This is the last scheduled show.

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 at Santander Arena, located in downtown Reading, PA at 700 Penn Street. The Royals won the Kelly Cup in 2013, have made the playoffs in nine 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.