The Reading Royals, proud affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, beat the Worcester Railers, 6-4, Monday, Jan. 17th at Santander Arena. Royals goaltender Hayden Hawkey saved 27 of 31 shots, while Railers goalie Luke Peressini saved 24 of 30.
Reading got on the board early and did so with a pair of goals. Brad Morrison contributed to both, finishing off a feed from the left side of Peressini’s net, and then earning an assist on Patrick Bajkov’s 13th of the season, scoring on a 2-on-1 break for an early Reading lead, 2-0.
6:26 into the middle period, the Railers got on the board. Brennan Feasey cashed in on a juicy rebound off the pads of Hawkey to score his first of the season, cutting the score to two goals, the closest the Railers would get to tying the score until the final 1:38 of play.
The second period had four different Royals players score as Reading jolted out to a commanding 6-1 lead. Bajkov beat Peressini on a one-timer set up by Trevor Gooch, netting his second goal of the afternoon.
Jackson Cressey, Brayden Low and Thomas Ebbing each scored goals in the remaining 10 minutes of the period. Low, scoring his ninth goal of the season, did so in highlight reel fashion. On a breakaway, he pulled trickery out of his pocket with a single-handed dangle, putting the puck from his forehand to his backhand and extending the puck across Perissini’s sprawled out body to complete the “Forsberg” move.
Worcester gave Hayden Hawkey and the Royals trouble in the final period of play. Two quick goals in the first four minutes off the sticks of Ross Olsson and Jacob Hayhurst began a final frame where the Railers outshot the Royals, 13-6. Anthony Repaci tapped in a cross crease feed from Hayhurst to cut the deficit down to two goals. However, the late-game comeback effort wasn’t enough, as Hawkey saved the final two shots in the 98 seconds of play remaining to seal the Royals’ victory.
The Royals take on the Adirondack Thunder on the road Friday, Jan. 21st at 7:00 p.m. at Cool Insuring Arena.
UPCOMING GAMES
- Saturday, Jan. 22 at 4:00 p.m. vs. Trois-Rivieres – DC Superheroes Night! Meet Superman and get $1 superhero ice cream pops as you watch the Royals wear a specialty jersey during the game. Attend the Postgame Party presented by DoubleTree by Hilton Reading afterwards.
- Sunday, Jan. 23 at 3:00 p.m. vs. Trois-Rivieres – It’s Undie Sundie/Country Night! Donate packaged underwear by throwing it on the ice after the Royals’ first goal of the game. All undergarments will be donated to charity. The first 2,000 fans will receive a puck giveaway presented by Berks-Schuylkill Oil Heat Association. Get $1 popcorn, nachos and hot dogs all game. It’s also a Salute to Essential Workers Sunday presented by Visions Federal Credit Union for trades workers.
Buy tickets HERE: www.royalshockey.com/promotions
Reading Royals season, flex memberships and group tickets are available for the 2021-22 season 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 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.