Gooch, Ebbing score hat tricks as Royals dominate Growlers

The Reading Royals, proud affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, defeated the Newfoundland Growlers, 9-2, Thursday, Feb. 3 at Mary Browns Centre. Royals goaltender Kirill Ustimenko saved 37 of 39 shots, while Growlers goalie Brett Epp saved 4 of 7 after coming in to relieve Evan Cormier who allowed 6 goals on 32 shots. 

BOX SCORE

After a scoreless first period, both teams scored in the opening two minutes of the middle frame. Marc Johnstone struck first for the Growlers, scoring his first of two goals on the night by tapping in a loose puck which banked off the boards and into Ustimenko’s crease. Trevor Gooch began a career night, scoring his first of three goals on a wrist shot which he buried top shelf of Cormier’s net to tie the game, 1-1.

Dominic Cormier, Jacob Pritchard and Thomas Ebbing each scored goals in the second period. Kenny Hausinger earned his first of two assists in the game on Pritchard’s goal, feeding him with a tape-to-tape pass through a Growlers’ defenseman as he crashed the net and deflected the puck over Cormier’s pad into the back of the net. Haunsinger improved his assist streak to seven consecutive games. 

Late into the middle period, the Growlers scored their second and final goal of the game. Jermemy McKenna fed Johnstone for a one-timer right on the doorstep of Ustimenko’s net to score his second goal of the game, cutting the Royals’ lead down to a two-goal lead after two periods, 4-2.

The Royals took the game over in the final 20 minutes of play. Gooch and Ebbing each scored their second goals of the game three minutes into the third period on a pair of backhands. Brad Morrison tallied his third point of the game, ripping a one-timer past Epp to extend Reading’s lead to five goals with 16:41 remaining in the third period.

Gooch and Ebbing scored the final two goals of the Royals’ offensive onslaught for their respective hat tricks. Ebbing lit the lamp with a wrist shot off of an offensive face off win to score his third and the team’s eighth goal. Gooch tallied his third goal with a tap in past Epp’s left pad after a rebound from Patrick Bajkov’s wrist shot landed on Gooch’s stick to slide home for the hatty and team’s ninth goal of the game.

The Royals take on the Newfoundland Growlers Friday, Feb. 4th, at 5:30 p.m. at Mary Browns Centre.

UPCOMING GAMES

HAPPY HOUR FRIDAY - 2/11/22

• Happy Hour 6-7PM (1/2 off domestic beer)

• Ice Angel trading card giveaway

• 4 for $48 - 4 tickets, 4 burgers, 4 sodas

• Flyers Friday presented by Deibler Dental - Paul Holmgren

• Career Berks Free Student Tickets - Fevo.me/CRB0211

PINK IN THE RINK - 2/12/22

• Pink and the Rink presented by Adams, LaVentura & Associates

• Specialty Jersey

• Infinity Scarf giveaway

• Pink ice

MARVEL SUPER HERO™ NIGHT - 2/19/22

• Iron Man specialty jersey

• Meet Iron Man

• $1 candy bag

• Poster giveaway

• Post-Game Party presented by DoubleTree by Hilton Reading

Buy tickets HERE: www.royalshockey.com/promotionsReading Royals season, flex memberships and group tickets are available for the 2021-22 season by visiting the Royals’ box office at Santander Arena or by calling 610-898-7825.About the RoyalsThe Reading Royals, proud affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms, are entering their 20th season in the ECHL. They won their first Kelly Cup championship in 2013 and have clinched playoff berths in 10 of the previous 11 seasons. They are four-time division champions. The Berks County Convention Center Authority (BCCCA), founded in 1996, owns the Royals and oversees operations at Santander Arena.