The Reading Royals, proud affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, lost, 4-2, to the Newfoundland Growlers Wednesday, Dec. 1, at Mary Brown’s Centre in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Pat Nagle made 27 saves on 31 shots, while Evan Cormier made 20 saves on 22 shots.
Bobby Lynch scored the game’s first goal 12:56 into the second period to make it 1-0 for the Growlers on the power play. Thirty-seven seconds later, Jacob Pritchard reignited the Royals with an individual effort, streaking through the offensive zone before attempting a wraparound on his backhand side. His initial shot was stopped, but he lifted home the rebound to tie the game at one.
Just 30 seconds after Pritchard’s goal, Newfoundland took the lead for good. Zach O’Brien scored his seventh goal of the season to make it 2-1.
Early in the third period, Ty Pelton-Byce stripped the puck from Patrick Bajkov in the neutral zone before walking in and firing the puck past Nagle glove-side, and then Todd Skirving scored just minutes later to make it 4-1. Jacob Pritchard scored his second goal on a five-on-three advantage with 10 minutes remaining in the game, marking his first time scoring more than once in an ECHL game, but it wasn’t enough to spark a comeback.
The Royals play the Newfoundland Growlers Friday, Dec. 3 at 5:30 in Newfoundland.
About the Royals
The 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.