February 28

The final Friday of February was a hockey night in Reading, Jamie Burkholder joined the ladies and me for the afternoon drive to Berks County. The South Carolina Stingrays made the last of their three appearances at the Arena, they were the opponent on opening weekend back in October. The clubs split a pair that weekend, the Royals winning via shootout on opening night and the Rays returning the favor with a regulation win the next day. On this night the Stingrays entered with the Eastern Conference's best record, the Royals held the #4 position (there are thirteen teams in the conference, only the top eight qualify for playoffs). It figured to be a good challenge and it was met head-on and decisively as the Royals won it going away 4-0. The game was scoreless after one period, in the second stanza Josh Brittain scored nineteen seconds in to make it 1-0. Thirty-five seconds later Brett Flemming lit the lamp to up the lead to two. Midway through the third period Julien Cayer found the back of the net, T.J. Syner's score a few minutes later wrapped up the scoring. Brandon Anderson got the call in goal and was immense especially in the last period when the Rays were pressing, the shutout was his third of the season. Riley Gill was back in uniform but served as backup as he finds his way back from illness. The win improves the club's mark to 32-19-2, 15-10-1 at home. The boys are at home for three games in three days from March 7-9, Wheeling visits on Friday and Evansville comes in for Saturday and Sunday. Take care, thanks for reading.