Pritchard scores overtime goal for Royals back-to-back wins over Growlers

The Reading Royals, proud affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, defeated the Newfoundland Growlers in overtime, 4-3, Friday, Feb. 4 at Mary Browns Centre. Royals goaltender Hayden Hawkey saved 26 of 29 shots, while Growlers goalie Evan Cormier saved 24 of 28 shots.

BOX SCORE

Reading got on the board first on a beautiful finish set up by an even prettier feed. Jacob Pritchard put a saucer pass directly onto the blade of Frank DiChiara’s stick for DiChiara to deflect the puck over Cormier’s pad and into the back of the net. Newfoundland responded halfway into the period with a backhand shot from Riley McCourt. McCourt’s shot sent the puck under Hawkey’s left pad and tied the game, 1-1, after the first period.

Jeremy McKenna scored 2:34 into the second period to give the Growlers the early period lead. Tic-tac-toe passing between Zach O'Brien, Matteo Pietroniro and McKenna pushed Hawkey out of position in his crease which provided a wide open right side of the Royals’ cage. McKenna cashed in on the open net for his third goal of the season. Jackson Cressey evened the game back up for the Royals on a one-timer right in front of Cormier’s crease to make it a 2-2 score after two periods.

Newfoundland struck first in the final period of regulation on the power play. Noel Hoffenmayer delivered a slap shot from the top of the zone to beat a sprawled out Hawkey laid out in his crease. Hawkey made two initial saves before the puck landed in the back of the net as the Growlers converted on their second power play of the game. 

Just like the second period, Reading answered back and tied the game late in the period. Dominic Cormier scored his second consecutive goal on a puck that banked off the boards behind Newfoundland’s net and onto his stick to catch Evan Cormier off guard and tie the game, 3-3.

Both teams scored a single goal in each period of regulation. However, in sudden death overtime the trend could not keep up and Jacob Pritchard delivered the final goal of the game to seal the fourth straight win for Reading against the Growlers. After a block from Trevor Gooch on the defensive end, Dominic Cormier lifted the puck out towards center ice and chased it down, took it in on a breakaway and put a shot on Evan Cormier that he saved but couldn’t cover up. Pritchard picked up the rebound off of Cormier’s pad save and shifted around the sprawled out Newfoundland net minder to bury the puck in the back of the net for the overtime victory.

The Royals take on the Newfoundland Growlers Saturday, Feb. 5th, 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.