Royals Weekly Report, Vol. 19, No. 4

1st-place Royals home this Saturday

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals won four games in five days, their first such feat since the 2014-15 season, to move into first place in the North Division and Eastern Conference. With wins over Newfoundland, Adirondack and Norfolk, the Royals are 4-1-0-0 at Santander Arena and 2-1-1-0 away from downtown Reading. The Royals (13 pts.) are at Wheeling Fri., Nov. 8 at 7:05 p.m. and then host the Nailers in a rematch Saturday at 7:00 p.m.This weekend’s matchup with Wheeling is the first home-and-home series for Reading this season. The Royals fired 36 shots in a 3-1 loss at the Nailers in first season-series meeting Oct. 26.Of note, all of Reading’s six wins have been by a goal and in regulation, the most one-goal wins in the ECHL. The 2018-19 team had six one-goal wins the entire season, four of which came in the shootout. Seven of Reading’s first ten games have been one-goal decisions (6-0-1-0 record).Last Time OutReading topped Adirondack Sunday, 1-0, for the Royals’ fourth straight win. Felix Sandström earned his first shutout in North America with 27 saves and Ralph Cuddemi registered the game-winning goal early in the second period. Jimmy Mazza tallied his first pro point with an assist on Cuddemi’s strike. The win gave the Royals a conference-best 13 points (6-3-1-0) and formed a two-point gap between Reading and second-place Adirondack in the North Division.Quick NotesReading’s sweep of a “four-in-five” (four games in five days) has happened five times since the start of 2012-13. It last occurred Feb. 4-8, 2015. In the Kelly Cup Championship season, the Royals swept a pair of four-in-fives.Felix Sandström has won his last two outings (3-3-0-0), including his 27-save shutout Sunday vs. Adirondack. Kirill Ustimenko is riding a three-game win streak after stopping 38 shots (3 GA) in two starts against Norfolk last week.Forward Matthew Gaudreau won AMI Graphics ECHL Plus Performer of the Month for October and continued to rack up points and plusses last week. He scored a team-best three goals over the four wins and tied a career-high with a two-goal output vs. Newfoundland. Gaudreau (5g, 5a) is tied with South Carolina defenseman Tom Parisi atop the league in plus/minus (+10).Defenseman David Drake scored the game-winning goal eight minutes into the third period in a 3-2 win against Norfolk on Saturday. The goal was his first tally since Dec. 21, 2018 vs. Manchester.Ralph Cuddemi’s team-leading 11 points is ranked top ten in the ECHL. He tallied three points (1g, 2a) in the last three contests.Weekly Schedule – Promotions at Royalshockey.com/promotionsNov. 8 at Wheeling, 7:05 p.m.Nov. 9 vs. Wheeling, 7:00 p.m.Nov. 11 at Maine, 7:00 p.m. Team Record6-3-1-0, 13 pts., 1st NorthDivision StandingsReading – 13 pointsAdirondack – 11 pointsNewfoundland – 10 pointsBrampton – 10 pointsMaine – 7 pointsWorcester – 6 pointsWeekly ResultsOct. 30 at NOR: W, 2-1Oct. 31 vs. NFD: W, 5-4Nov. 2 vs. NOR: W, 3-2Nov. 3 vs. ADK: W, 1-0 

Regular season team leaders Goals: Ralph Cuddemi/Frank DiChiara (6)Assists: Garrett Mitchell (6)Points: Ralph Cuddemi (11)PIM: Garrett Mitchell (20)+/-: Matthew Gaudreau (+10)Practice scheduleMonday – OFF DAYTuesday – OFF DAYWednesday – Practice, 11:00-12:30, Santander ArenaThursday – Travel to WheelingFriday – Game at Wheeling, 7:05 p.m.Saturday – Game vs. Wheeling, 7:00 p.m.Sunday – Travel to MaineMonday – Game at Maine, 7:00 p.m.Single-game tickets and mini-plans are on sale by visiting royalshockey.com/promotions, calling 610-898-7825 and visiting Santander Arena and The Weidenhammer Box Office at 700 Penn Street, Reading, PA.About the RoyalsThe Royals are in their 19th ECHL season and are proudly affiliated with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers and AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The Royals won the Kelly Cup in 2013, have made the playoffs 14 times, and are four-time division champions. The Berks County Convention Center Authority (BCCCA), founded in 1996, owns the Royals and oversees operations at Santander Arena and the Santander Arena Performing Arts Center.Listen to all Royals broadcasts at Mixlr.com/ReadingRoyals or by downloading the Mixlr App from the App Store or Google Play. All Royals away games are broadcasted on BCTV (Ch. 15 Comcast, Ch. 19 Service Electric) and Mixlr.