Game 60 Recap: Reading at Wheeling

Hodgson’s second goal | Ebbing scores twice

Reading, PA – Hayden Hodgson scored twice, Thomas Ebbing set a career high with four points (2g) and the Reading Royals rolled to a 5-1 win at the Wheeling Nailers Tuesday at Wesbanco Arena. Reading trails Newfoundland by three points for first place in the North Division and boasts a nine-point edge on Brampton for the second seed. The Royals have 37 wins through 60 games, the fifth time in team history Reading has at least 37 wins in that span. Felix Sandström blocked 17 shots in victory.Hodgson started the scoring at 4:01 of the first on a breakaway and Reading never trailed. He then scored the Royals’ fourth goal on a snipe from the right-wing circle that eluded Emil Larmi’s glove (loss, 33 saves) in the final five minutes of the second.In addition to Hodgson’s opening goal, the Royals scored in the first with an Ebbing slam to take an 18-5 shots edge and 2-0 score into first break. Former Nailers defenseman Aaron Titcomb assisted on both goals. On the second strike, Titcomb fed Garrett Cecere at left point. Cecere’s shot went off the right pad of Larmi and straight to Ebbing for the goal at left post.Rob Michel recorded his team-defensemen-leading eighth of the campaign at 2:10 of the 2nd, assisted by Matthew Strome and David Drake. A minute after the Nailers made it a 3-1 score on Carlos Fornaris’ first pro goal, Hodgson scored his second to restore a three-goal advantage.Reading is home for its first-ever “Green Ice Weekend” Mar. 13-14 with multiple chances to win luxury prizes ($10,000 Friday, Jeep Compass Limited Saturday pres. by Savage Auto Group) if a fan can guess which Royals player will record a hat trick. Reading will wear special theme jerseys on both nights. Grab $1 green beers and $1 domestics on Friday and giveaways both nights (Deibler Dental Coaster on Friday, BSOHA Puck on Saturday).Box Score Hodgson the a.m. specialist Hayden Hodgson scored twice in the opening two periods, continuing his run of morning-game excellence. He scored twice in two periods Nov. 13 at Worcester, his first career multi-goal game. Hodgson exited during the second period of that game. With the two early goals in this game, it meant Hodgson scored four times in the first four frames of his morning games. The native of Leamington, ON has a career high 12 goals and 20 points this season.Ebbing and the depthSigned by Reading in November, forward Thomas Ebbing has scored 12 goals and 26 points in 46 games this season, one of nine Royals with more than ten goals.On his first-frame strike, the pivot set up net front and slammed it off a save from Larmi. He has scored in consecutive series games against Wheeling.He scored his second goal with a swoop net front after turning the corner at the bottom of the right circle. He skied the puck in from the right doorstep.Loving the coffeeReading finished 3-0-0-0 in morning games this season, their first “perfect” season record in a.m. contests in the Kirk MacDonald era.11-in-19The Royals completed a stretch of 11 games in 19 days Tuesday, their busiest three-week stretch of the season, with a 7-3-0-1 mark. Over the 11 games, the Royals received a number of notable newcomers, including netminder Tom McCollum and forward Lewis Zerter-Gossage.Upcoming Home Games: royalshockey.com/promotions Fri., Mar. 13 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Norfolk (Mental Health Awareness Night)If a Royals player records a hat trick at the game, one fan will win $10,000 | Special Theme Jersey | Green Ice for the First Time in Royals History | Mental Health Awareness Night | College ID Night: $5 tickets with valid college ID at box office| $1 Green Beer and $1 Domestic Beers | Deibler Dental Royals and Flyers Alumni Coaster Set GiveawaySat., Mar. 14 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Norfolk (Autism Awareness, Scout and Teacher Appreciation) Sensory-friendly game, with subdued atmosphere with music and lighting, plus quiet spaces in the arena | Green Ice3 Lucky Fans will each get to pick a player they think will score a Hat Trick in a contest to win a Jeep Compass Limited | Autism Awareness jerseys | Scout & Teacher Night | BSOHA Royals Puck Giveaway | $1 Rainbow treat or Dippin’ Dots | Diaper Drive to benefit Mary’s Shelter in ReadingAbout 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.