Weekly Release: Royals tied for 4th in North at all-star break

Weekly Release, Vol. 18, No. 15:Royals enjoy all-star break, return for one game in Wheeling Saturday  

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals, proud ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms, are in the midst of a six-day break as teams around the league prepare for the CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic Monday in Toledo, OH. The Royals representative, Steven Swavely, is on recall to Lehigh Valley and will not participate. Swavely is one of seven Royals players to earn a call-up to the Phantoms this season. Earlier Monday, defenseman Frank Hora and forward Josh MacDonald were bumped up to the Phantoms. MacDonald leads Reading with 18 goals and scored a pair last week.Reading has 42 points, tied with Brampton for the fourth and final playoff spot in the North Division. The Royals will return to action at Wheeling Sat., Jan. 26 at 7:05 p.m. after the break.Royals upcoming home gamesReading hosts Maine on Wed., Jan. 30 at 7:00 p.m., featuring a postgame player autograph session, pres. by Rieck’s Printing.On Sat., Feb. 2, it’s Marvel Superhero Night with the Royals vs. Manchester at 7:00 p.m. and the Royals will wear Black Panther jerseys.Team Record17-14-3-5, 42 points, T-4th NorthDivision StandingsNewfoundland – 56 pointsAdirondack – 49 pointsMaine – 43 pointsReading – 42 pointsBrampton – 42 pointsManchester – 40 pointsWorcester – 39 pointsWeekly ResultsJan. 16 vs Manchester: L, 3-1Jan. 18 vs: Brampton: L, 3-1Jan. 19 vs Wheeling: L, 4-3

Big Storylines1) Komm’s return

Branden Komm was returned on loan to Reading last week after a month-long stint in Lehigh Valley. He played two games last weekend, allowing six goals with a .909 save percentage. It marked Komm’s first starts with Reading since November. In his first game back Friday vs. Brampton, he made 33 saves (2 GA, loss). In 12 games this campaign, Komm (5-3-1-1) with a 2.67 goals against average and .920 save percentage.

2) Weekend Preview at Wheeling

Saturday marks the sixth installment of an eight-game series between the Royals and Nailers. Reading is 2-2-0-1 in games against Wheeling this campaign. In the most-recent iteration Saturday, Reading forward Chris McCarthy recorded three assists in a 4-3 loss. He paces the Royals with six points (1g) against Wheeling. Josh MacDonald has netted three goals and dished two helpers in the season series.  Nailers forward Troy Josephs scored two goals and three points on Saturday and tops Wheeling with seven points (4g) against the Royals.Goalie Branden Komm in 1-1-0-0 against the Nailers, conceding six goals in two games with 59 saves on 65 shots. Wheeling netminders John Muse (4gp) and Jordan Ruby (1 GP) combine for a 3.00 goals against average and .913 save percentage vs. Reading this season.3) Quick numbers watchNick Luukko has played in 241 games with Reading, four short of tying Yannick Tifu for the third-most in team history. Chris McCarthy’s three-point effort Saturday evened him with Ben Gordon for fourth on Reading’s all-time points list (144 pts.).

Regular season team leaders Goals: Josh MacDonald (18)

Assists: Chris McCarthy (29)

Points: Chris McCarthy (38)

PIM: Adam Marsh (42)

+/-: Steven Swavely (12)

Practice scheduleMonday – OFF – All-Star BreakTuesday – OFF – All-Star BreakWednesday – OFF – All-Star BreakThursday – OFF – All-Star BreakFriday – Practice TBD and team travel to WheelingSaturday – Game 7:05 p.m. at WheelingSunday – OFFMonday – TBDRoyals Radio Recon: Next Show Tues., Jan.  22Live from Jimmy G’s Railroad House from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.Meet Royals players at Jimmy G’s Railroad House, 152 Woodrow Ave., Sinking Spring, PA. Listen on mixlr.com/ReadingRoyals or via the Mixlr App.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.