Reading, PA - The Reading Royals (31-28-9-2), proud ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms, fell to the Norfolk Admirals (40-23-6-1), 4-3, at Norfolk Scope Arena on Wednesday, April 9th.
Goaltender Vinnie Purpura (11-6-4-1) suffered the loss in goal with 28 saves on 31 shots faced while Admirals’ goaltender Ian Shane (3-0-2-0) earned the win in goal with 23 saves on 26 shots faced.
Shane Sellar (11) scored the game’s opening goal for Reading 5:24 into play to give the Royals a 1-0 lead until Grant Hebert (6) evened the score at 13:30, 1-1.
Norfolk took the lead at 7:17 into the second period, 2-2, on Brady Fleurent’s (29) first of two goals in the game. After Robert Calisti (8) tied the score for Reading, Denis Smirnov (19) restored the Admirals lead at 14:32, 3-2.
Fleurent (30) improved Norfolk’s lead to two, 4-2, at 17:48 of the final frame. Despite a Jake Smith (15) goal in the final minute for the Royals, at 19:17, a comeback for Reading fell short.
With the loss, the Royals finished their five-game road-trip at 2-3-0 and a road portion of the regular season schedule at 16-17-3-0. Reading has registered a point in 16 of their last 22 (13-6-2-1), as well as 28 of their 39 games since Jan. 1st, 2025 (21-11-5-2).
The Royals return home for the final two games of the regular season against the Worcester Railers on Friday, April 11th and Saturday, April 12th at 7 PM at Santander Arena. The Royals hold a magic number of 6 and require two wins in the final two games of the regular season to clinch the final playoff spot in the North Division.
For tickets to the home games, visit: Single Game Tickets
-
Follow the Royals on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and subscribe to the 𝘙𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘥𝘰𝘮 email list to know when promotions and deals at all homes games this season goes live!
-
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.