Gooch dazzles for first pro hat trick, MacDonald registers 100th career win

Click below for postgame highlights/reactionTrevor Gooch postgame | Gooch’s hat-trick goal 

Worcester, MA – Trevor Gooch registered his first professional hat trick and a career-high four points in the first two periods to smother the Worcester Railers, 5-1, Friday at the DCU Center. The win was the 100th career victory for Reading Royals Head Coach Kirk MacDonald (100-66-18-6 career mark). MacDonald is the third coach in Royals history to register at least 100 wins, joining Karl Taylor and Larry Courville.After Gooch started the scoring at 7:05 of the first, the Royals took a 1-0 lead into first break. He exploded for two goals and three points in the next 15 minutes, completing his hat trick with a right-wing circle laser beam through Evan Buitenhuis (no decision, 10 saves, 1 GA). Buitenhuis relieved Jakub Skarek (loss, 10 saves), who was yanked after giving up four strikes in 26:49.Gooch has nine goals and 18 points in his rookie season. The four-point effort tied a game high for Reading this season; it had last been done by Ralph Cuddemi in November.Matthew Gaudreau and Thomas Ebbing also[DF1]  scored for Reading. Kirill Ustimenko was perfect in the final period, finishing with a career-high 36 saves (1 GA). He allowed the only Worcester goal to Nic Pierog with 54.9 seconds to go in the second.The Royals play two straight on the road next Friday and Saturday at 7:00 p.m., then return home for Ladies Night (Feb. 7) and the team’s annual Pink in the Rink game Sat., Feb. 8, pres. by Lamar Outdoor Advertising,  Alvernia University and Adams & Associates.Box ScoreGooch gets three, including the openerTrevor Gooch’s opening goal marked the ninth time the Royals have scored first on the road this season. Overall, the club is 20-1-3-0 when scoring first. Gooch has four goals in the season series of his nine total this campaign.In his hat trick effort, Gooch added the team’s fourth and fifth goals to put the game out of reach. Reading led 5-0 with five minutes to go in the second after his right-circle, hat-trick tally.Rob Michel fed Gooch twice with primary helpers, first along the right post and then the left goal line. That upped his assist total to 11 (13 pts.) in his rookie season. The Camillus, NY native has four helpers against the Railers.Friendly front endThe Royals improved to 2-0-0-0 this season with Eric Knodel in the lineup against the Railers. The reigning ECHL Defenseman of the Year has 27 points this season (4g) to lead Royals blue liners.Reading also moved to 10-2-0-0 on Fridays this season. The power play went 1-for-2 and Reading successfully killed three Worcester man ups.Upcoming Home Games: royalshockey.com/promotions Fri., Feb. 7 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Atlanta (Ladies Night/Wine Tasting)Free Wine Tasting on the concourse with Deerfoot Vineyards, Black River Farms and RoseLawn Bistro | College ID Night: $5 tickets with valid college ID at box office| $1 SmoothiesSat., Feb. 8 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Wheeling (Pink in the Rink) – pres. by Lamar Advertising, Adams & Associates and Alvernia University Royals play on pink ice with Fleece Blanket Giveaway to the first 1,500 fans | Breast Cancer Awareness Jerseys$1 Pink Rose Draft Cider | Doubleheader: 1 ticket also gets you admission to the Alvernia Women’s Hockey Game at 2:00 p.m.Sun., Feb. 16 at 4:00 p.m. vs. Worcester (Kids Club Game)Last free postgame skate of the season, presented by Body Zone | Team Photo Giveaway | $1 Hot Dog, $1 Soda & $1 Nacho Concession Special Pricing | Game Included Kids Club Packages presented by Applebee’s, Schuykill Valley Sports and YMCA of Reading and Berks County (Sign Ups Available)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. 

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