Weekly Release: Vol. 18, No. 12

Royals home Friday vs. Norfolk, travel to Manchester Saturday

Reading, PA – Heading into the new year, the Reading Royals, proud ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms, are tied for third in the North Division with 37 points. First-place Newfoundland is four points ahead of Reading, with the Royals home Friday at 7:00 p.m. vs. Norfolk.Reading completed December with an 8-2-0-1 record, earning their last win of the month Friday vs. Newfoundland.  It is the 12th time in Royals history the club registered two or fewer regulation losses in a month (excluding Oct. and Apr.).Team Record

15-9-2-5, 37 points, T-3rd NorthDivision Standings

Newfoundland – 41 pointsAdirondack – 40 pointsReading – 37 pointsMaine – 37 pointsBrampton – 31 pointsWorcester – 31 pointsManchester – 30 pointsWeekly ResultsDec. 28 vs. Newfoundland: W, 4-1Dec. 29 vs. Newfoundland: SOL, 4-3Dec. 31 at Wheeling: L, 4-0

Big 3 Storylines 1) Playing Well Outside the BoxReading players sat in the box for a total of four minutes (2 PIM each game) in the back-to-back games against first-place Newfoundland last weekend. Saturday’s shootout loss tied for fewest number of penalty minutes taken by the Royals and by a Reading opponent in a game this season. At even strength this season, Reading is outscoring opponents, 68-60. The Royals yielded one goal at even strength Monday at Wheeling.   

2) Weekend Preview vs. Norfolk and at Manchester The Royals practice at home this week and face off against the Norfolk Admirals for the first time this season. The Admirals are currently fifth in the Southern Division (14-16-1-2, 31 pts.). Taylor Cammarata and rookie Luke Nogard lead Norfolk in goals (11), with Cammarata best on the squad in points (26).  In two fewer games than the Admirals, Josh MacDonald leads the team with 15 goals and Chris McCarthy leads with 31 points.   Reading is 2-0-0-1 vs. Manchester this campaign and the Monarchs are last in the North Division with 30 points. Manchester snapped a five-game losing streak on New Year’s Eve, striding past Maine, 3-2.

3) Royals player of the week: Chris McCarthy

McCarthy tied for second in the ECHL with 14 assists and fourth with 21 points this December. The month-long tear has given the Collegeville, PA native the team lead in points (31). He registered multi-point games in eight of the first nine games of the month. At Manchester Dec. 21, the fifth-year professional generated four points in the first period and completed the contest with a professional-best five (1g, 4a).At the start of the month, McCarthy ranked seventh on the team in points and had one goal.  Regular season team leaders Goals: Josh MacDonald (15)Assists: Chris McCarthy (23)Points: Chris McCarthy (31)+/-: Michael Huntebrinker (12)PIM: Adam Marsh (42)Practice scheduleMonday – Game at Wheeling (L, 4-0)Tuesday – OFF DAYWednesday – 11:00 a.m. Santander ArenaThursday – 11:00 a.m. Santander ArenaFriday – Game 7:00 p.m. vs. NorfolkSaturday – Game 7:00 p.m. at ManchesterSunday – OFF DAYMonday – 11:00 a.m. Santander Arena Royals Radio Recon: Next Show Tues., Jan. 8Live 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.