Reading, PA – Ouch. Royals struggles continue, giving up eight goals to Wheeling for a second consecutive night. The promotion at Santander Arena was “Star Wars Night”; bringing a large crowd of over five thousand fans. The Royals wore specialty Baby Yoda sweaters for the 7 p.m. faceoff against the club from West Virginia. The alternate captains, Brubacher and Fawcett found twine for Reading.
RECAP
Bear with me as I recap all eleven goals from the Saturday night contest. The first tally was a blast from the blue line off the blade of Thimo Nickl, Nickl’s second of the season in 39 games at 13:51. Lukas Svejkovsky just over a minute later at 15:08, netted the one-timer glove-side on a sliding Kenny. Dillon Hamaliuk put the Nailers up three, the puck was just sitting outside the crease after a slapshot from the point no one claimed it, but Dillon extended Wheeling’s lead.
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The Royals looked to come out just as they did in the first, dictating play and putting shots on. Reading finally found the back of the net, and 2:20 into the second Tyson Fawcett netted his fifth of the season. Justin Lee restored the Nailers’ three-goal lead with a slapshot under the blocker of a screened Royals netminder at 6:59. Dillon Hamaliuk ended Kenny’s night between the pipes for Reading, a wrister from the high slot at 9:30. Nolan Maier came in relief and wasn’t greeted so nicely by Wheeling. Lukas Svejkovsky greeted Maier, the first shot Nolan faced was behind him. Svejkovsky’s top-shelf one-timer came at 11:02. Matt Koopman kicked the extra point, his seventh of the season slotting home the rebound on the open cage at 19:53.
The final Nailers’ tally came 4:25 into the third period, Matthew Quercia crashed the net and carried Maier’s pad along with the puck into the net. Don’t call it a comeback! Adam Brubacher capped off the scoring for the contest, with a one-timer five-hole at 17:36.
Final: 8-2 Wheeling
WHL – Jaxon Caster 29 – SH | 27 – SV | 2 – GA (W)
REA – Ryan Kenny 15 – SH | 10 – SV | 5 – GA (L)
REA – Nolan Maier 15 – SH | 12 – SV | 3 – GA
Three Stars
1. Lukas Svejkovsky – WHL
2. Cédric Desruisseaux – WHL
3. Lukas Svejkovsky – WHL
Game Length: 2:14 7:01 PM EST – 9:15 PM EST
Attendance: 5,290
Santander Arena | Reading, Pennsylvania
