Weekly Release, Vol. 18, No. 21

Royals start road trip with winning streak  

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals, proud ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms, are 2-0-0-0 to begin a season-long six-game road trip as Reading heads to St. John’s, NL for a couple of mid-week showdowns at the first-place Newfoundland Growlers starting Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. The Royals are five points out of the fourth and final North Division playoff spot with 15 games to go.Last weekend, eight Royals scored goals over a two-game weekend sweep at Norfolk and Reading outscored the Admirals, 10-3. Reading won four of five games against Norfolk in the five-game season series.The Royals will be on the ice for four more road games this week, completing the six-game road trip. The team visits Newfoundland Tuesday and Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Reading is at Brampton Mar. 9-10 and the Royals are three points behind the Beast for fifth in the North.Back at home, the Royals announced Mar. 16 will be a Free Kids Game at Santander Arena. Additionally, family four pack deals have been added to seven more home games; get 4 tickets, 4 burgers and 4 sodas for $48.Next Home GamesFri., Mar. 15: Mental Health Awareness Night vs. Indy at 7:00 p.m.- 4-for-48 Family Four Pack: 4 tickets, 4 burgers and 4 sodas for $48 - Supporting mental health initiatives with the Royals - Enter for a chance to win a 2017 Toyota Camry, courtesy of AutoRide of Reading - Special Mental Health Awareness Jerseys- Meet Royals players after the game at DoubleTree's Cheers! Restaurant (701 Penn St.)Sat., Mar. 16: St. Hat Trick’s Day vs. Indy at 7:00 p.m.- Chance to win $10,000 if Royals player gets a hat trick- Free kids ticket game: Receive 1 free kids ticket (14 and under) for every adult ticket purchased- Ice Angels Dance Team poster giveaway and postgame autographs, pres. by Rieck's Printing- Enter for a chance to win a 2017 Toyota Camry, courtesy of AutoRide of Reading- Special St. Hat Trick's Day JerseysIn the Community: Royals “Bleed Purple,” donate blood with Miller Keystone Blood Center Mar. 26The Reading Royals have teamed up with the Miller Keystone Blood Center for the team’s “Bleed Purple Blood Drive” event, which will happen Mar. 26 from 2:00-7:00 p.m. at Santander Arena. Meet Royals players and mascot Slapshot. Sign up for a donation time slot at GiveaPint.org/Reading-Royals or by emailing community@royalshockey.com with contact information. Call 610-898-7253 with additional questions.ECHL LeaderboardChris McCarthy: 3rd in assists (45) | T-5th in points (60)Weekly ScheduleMar. 5 at Newfoundland: Mile One Centre, 5:30 p.m.Mar. 6 at Newfoundland: Mile One Centre, 5:30 p.m.Mar. 9 at Brampton: CAA Centre, 4:00 p.m.Mar. 10 at Brampton: CAA Centre, 2:00 p.m.Team Record25-23-4-5, 59 points, T-6th NorthDivision StandingsNewfoundland - 76 pointsAdirondack - 69 pointsManchester - 64 pointsMaine - 64 pointsBrampton - 62 pointsReading - 59 pointsWorcester - 59 pointsWeekly ResultsMar. 1 at Norfolk: W, 5-1Mar. 2 at Norfolk: W, 5-2Big Storylines 1) A few more back-to-backsThe Royals notched their second winning streak in the last calendar month against Norfolk, defeating the Ads in back-to-back games last weekend. Reading has been on two streaks longer than a couple of games this season; a three-game stretch and a seven-game blaze.Reading will seek its third “three-game win streak” of the season Tuesday at Newfoundland.2) Strength of scheduleReading has ten of its final 15 against teams currently in playoff positioning. Worcester has 12 games against teams occupying a playoff spot. Brampton has 11, Maine has eight and Manchester has seven.  Here is a look at the final 15 games of the Royals season.vs. North Division

4 games vs. Newfoundland (1st place, 76 points)3 games vs. Adirondack (2nd place, 69 points)2 games vs. Maine (T-3rd place, 64 pts.)2 games vs. Brampton (5th place, 62 points)1 game vs. Worcester (T-6th place, 59 points)vs. Central Division2 games vs. Indy (6th Central, 57 points)1 game vs. Wheeling (T-4th in Central, 61 points)3) Brown’s 6 Royals player-assistant coach Tyler Brown scored his sixth goal of the season Saturday, the most goals he’s had in a regular season since 2014-15. The Royals’ eldest (29) and most-experienced player (8 seasons), Brown has contributed nine points in 42 games.Brown has played in 457 professional regular season games and 25 postseason contests. In 284 AHL games, the Wasage Beach, ON native contributed 59 points (25g). He has 27 tallies and 62 points in 173 ECHL games.Regular season team leaders Goals: Josh MacDonald (20)Assists: Chris McCarthy (45)Points: Chris McCarthy (60)PIM: Jacob Graves (66)+/-: Michael Huntebrinker (+16)Practice scheduleMonday – TRAVEL DAYTuesday – Royals at Newfoundland, 5:30 p.m.Wednesday – Royals at Newfoundland, 5:30 p.m.Thursday – TRAVEL DAYFriday – Practice in Brampton, TBDSaturday – Game at Brampton, 4:00 p.m.Sunday – Game at Brampton, 2:00 p.m.Monday – OFF DAY*** Royals will return to the ice at Santander Arena for practice on Tues., Mar. 12Royals Radio Recon: Next Show Tues.,  Mar.  12Live 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 are in their 18th ECHL season and 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.