Reading, PA - The Reading Royals (0-1-0-0), proud ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms, fell to the Wheeling Nailers (1-0-0-0), 4-0, in Game One of the North Division Semifinal 2026 Kelly Cup Playoffs at WesBanco Arena on Friday, April 24th.

Goaltender Yaniv Perets (0-1-0-0) suffered the loss in goal with 23 saves on 26 shots faced while Nailers’ netminder Taylor Gauthier (1-0-0-0) earned his first Kelly Cup Playoff career win and shutout with 20 saves.

BOX SCORE

Zach Urdahl (1 & 2) scored his first two professional playoff career goals in the opening minutes of the second period at 0:23 and 4:14 on a Wheeling power play and Wheeling penalty kill, respectively for a 2-0 Nailers lead.

Wheeling extended their lead in the third period with goals from Max Graham (1) and Matthew Quercia (1) at 9:14 and 15:49 to seal the Wheeling Game One victory and Gauthier’s second career shutout against the Royals.

The shutout was the 10th time Reading has been blanked in the postseason and the first since Game One of the 2023 North Division Final against the Newfoundland Growlers.

Kelly Cup Playoff Schedule

North Division Semifinals: #1 Wheeling (46-20-3-3, 98 points) vs. #4 Reading Royals (36-26-8-2, 82 points)

GAME 1 - 4-0 Wheeling (WHL 1-0)

GAME 2 - AWAY (Saturday, April 25 at 7:10 p.m. @ WesBanco Arena)

GAME 3 - HOME - (Wednesday, April 29 at 7:00 p.m. @ Santander Arena) - CLICK FOR TICKETS (Use code "BCCCA" at checkout for Wednesday Buy One, Get One ticket deal)

GAME 4 - HOME - (Friday, May 1 at 7:00 p.m. @ Santander Arena) - CLICK FOR TICKETS

GAME 5* - HOME* - (Saturday, May 2 at 7:00 p.m. @ Santander Arena) - CLICK FOR TICKETS

GAME 6* - AWAY (Monday, May 4 at 7:10 p.m. @ WesBanco Arena)

GAME 7* - AWAY (Wednesday, May 6 at 7:10 p.m. @ WesBanco Arena)

*If necessary

Click here to see all tickets on Ticketmaster

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2026-27 Season Memberships

Royals365 Season Memberships, select game plans, and group tickets are available for the 2026-27 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 24th season in the ECHL. They won their first Kelly Cup championship in 2013 and have clinched playoff berths in 13 of their latest 15 seasons. They are five-time division champions and were the 2021-22 Eastern Conference regular season champion. The Berks County Convention Center Authority (BCCCA), founded in 1996, owns the Royals and oversees operations at Santander Arena.