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Gratton Scores Twice, Royals Edge Out Nailers, 5-4

Sunday, April 6th
Gratton Scores Twice, Royals Edge Out Nailers, 5-4

Reading, PA - The Reading Royals (31-26-9-2), proud ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms, defeated the Wheeling Nailers (40-24-3-1), 5-4, at WesBanco Arena on Saturday, April 5th.

Goaltender Keith Petruzzelli (12-16-4-0) earned the win in goal with 25 saves on 29 shots faced while Nailers’ goaltender Thomas Gale (1-1-0-0) suffered the loss in goal with 30 saves on 35 shots faced.

BOX SCORE

Reading and Wheeling exchanged goals in the opening 1:12 with Robert Calisit (7) scoring the game-opening goal for the Royals 57 seconds into the game, followed by David Jankowski (11) tying the score for the Nailers at 1:12. Mitch Deelstra (2) and Tyler Gratton (18) scored at 7:01 into the first period and 6:10 into the middle frame to give Reading a two-goal lead, 3-1.

Logan Pietila (9) brought Wheeling within one-goal entering the third period, 3-2. Reading edged out the Nailers with two goals in the final frame from Zach Faremouth (1) at 2:03 and Gratton (19) at 12:32 despite allowing goals to Wheeling’s Matthew Quercia (18) and Gabe Klassen (18) at 10:30 and 18:14, respectively.

David Jankowski (10) put Wheeling ahead for good with his second of four points in the game at 14:35 of the second period. Logan Pietila (8) and Klassen (17) goals at 13:53 and 16:19, respectively, sealed the series opener win for the Nailers.

With the win, the Royals improved 2-1-0 in their five-game road-trip and have registered a point in 16 of their last 20 (13-4-2-1), as well as 28 of their 37 games since Jan. 1st, 2025 (21-9-5-2).

The Royals continue a five-game road-trip with a face-off against the Nailers on Sunday, April 6th at 4:10 PM at Wesbanco Arena. The road-trip concludes on Wednesday, April 9th against Norfolk at Norfolk Scope Arena at 7:05 PM.

The Royals return home for the final two games of the regular season against Worcester on Friday, April 11th and Saturday, April 12th at 7 PM at Santander Arena.

For tickets to the home games, visit: Single Game Tickets

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2024-25 Season Memberships

Royals365 Season Memberships, six-game plans, ten-game plans, and group tickets are available for the 2024-25 season now by visiting the Royals’ box office at Santander Arena or by calling 610-898-7825.

About the Royals

The Reading Royals, proud affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms, are in their 23rd season in the ECHL. They won their first Kelly Cup championship in 2013 and have clinched playoff berths in 12 of the previous 14 seasons. They are five-time division champions and were the 2021-22 Eastern Conference champion. The Berks County Convention Center Authority (BCCCA), founded in 1996, owns the Royals and oversees operations at Santander Arena.