Game 17 Preview: Adirondack at Reading

   Royals return from Thanksgiving to start home-and-home with Thunder

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals (6-4-2-4, 18 pts.), proud ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms, host a Black Friday showdown vs. the Adirondack Thunder (10-6-0-1, 21 pts.) Friday at 7:00 p.m. Friday’s game is the first of a back-to-back vs. the Thunder, with the second game of the week taking place in Glens Falls Saturday at 7:00 p.m.The Royals dominated Wheeling, 5-1, Wednesday at Wesbanco Arena. Steven Swavely continued his scalding pace, extending to a team-best 17 points with a three-point night (1g, 2a). Frank DiChiara registered two points (1g, 1a) in the first four minutes. Angus Redmond blocked 12 shots in the third to savor a 36-save victory, his first as a Royals netminder.

The Thunder allowed four goals in the second period to Manchester Wednesday, suffering a 6-3 loss.Following Friday’s and Saturday’s back-to-back, the Royals are at the Maine Mariners on Wed., Nov. 28 at 7:00 p.m. The Royals are 2-0-0-0 at Maine and 2-1-0-0 overall against the Mariners.Reading hosts the Kalamazoo Wings on Fri., Nov. 30 at 7:00 p.m., featuring a PA Lottery Voucher Giveaway to fans 18 and older.Listen to today’s game at Mixlr.com/ReadingRoyals, with coverage starting 15 minutes before puck drop.Swavely obliteratesSteven Swavely tied a single-game best with three points Wednesday, his second career three-point contest. He has scored in four straight games for the first time in his career, tying Josh MacDonald for a team-best eight goals. Over the last four, Swavely has six goals and nine points.Swavely is nearly halfway to his single-season high for goals in an ECHL campaign, set his rookie campaign (18).The Reading native’s previous single-game best for points came Jan. 27, 2017 vs. Adirondack.DiChiara’s quick start Frank DiChiara earned the primary assist on the Royals’ first goal and scored the team’s second Wednesday at Wheeling, pushing to third on the team with 13 points. He has two multi-point efforts this campaign and scored at least one point in 11 contests. A second-year professional from Ronkonkoma, NY, DiChiara scored 23 points in 62 games last season.Record here The Royals are 19-15-2-3 against the Thunder all-time and 11-7-1-0 vs. Adirondack in Reading. Last season, Reading went 5-2-0-0 against Adirondack at Santander Arena, with the Thunder taking two of the last three matchups.Michael Huntebrinker has generated the most-notable home performance vs. the Thunder in the Kirk MacDonald era. On Dec. 30, 2017, he registered four points and his first professional hat trick as the Royals triumphed over the Thunder, 5-3.In the team’s only matchup at Santander Arena this season, Alex Krushelnyski scored and John Edwardh registered three points (2g, 1a) in a 3-1 Thunder victory vs. Reading Nov. 10.Scouting the ThunderSince starting the season 10-3-0-0, the Thunder have dropped four straight games (0-3-0-1) and scored six goals combined in the defeats. In the team’s last game Wednesday vs. Manchester, Mike Szmatula notched two goals, but Cam Johnson allowed six goals in a 6-3 loss at Cool Insuring Arena.Thunder forward James Henry tops the squad with 20 points (3g). Conor Riley is the team leader with seven goals.Cam Johnson has dropped four straight games, moving to 3-4-0-1 with a 2.55 goals against average and .913 save percentage. Alex Sakellaropoulos has won three of four decisions, accruing a 2.20 goals against average and .924 save percentage.Power play breaks outThe Royals netted multiple power-play goals (2-for-4) in a game for the second time this season, cashing in twice vs. the Nailers. Reading’s Steven Swavely and Michael Huntebrinker potted the man-advantage markers.Nine Royals have scored on the man up this season. Frank DiChiara and Jack Riley top the squad with two power-play goals.

Santa Sacks and Stocking Stuffers: Get ticket vouchers, autographed mini-sticks, pucks and player picturesBlack Friday vs. Adirondack: Fri., Nov. 23 at 7:00 p.m.PA Lottery Voucher Giveaway vs. Kalamazoo: Fri., Nov. 30 at 7:00 p.m.

About the RoyalsThe Royals have been owned by serial entrepreneur Jack Gulati since 2014 and are entering their 18th 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 nine straight seasons and are four-time division champions.Listen to all Royals broadcasts at Mixlr.com/ReadingRoyals or by downloading the Mixlr App from the App Store or Google Play.