November 26-27

Saturday night at the Arena as the Royals hosted the Cincinnati Cyclones in the first of a two-game series. The teams have been infrequent opponents in recent years (this was the 'Clones first visit to Reading since November of 2013) but there is a history built largely on playoff meetings. The Royals lost to Cincinnati in the 2008 and 2010 postseasons but were victorious in 2011 and in 2013 on the road to the Kelly Cup. Former Royal Patrick Wellar (a key member of the championship club) was in the building for this series as a Cyclones assistant coach. The Royals finally had a chance to get some quality practice time at home during the week, it paid off with the win in Elmira on Friday and two huge home-ice victories over the Cyclones to wrap up the weekend. In the opener on Saturday the Royals started strong, goals by Olivier Labelle and Matt Wilkins made it 2-0 in the first ten minutes. Cincinnati replied with one in the first and one in the second to tie the score, early in the third Justin Crandall lit the lamp to put the Royals back up 3-2. With three minutes left Labelle took a penalty for roughing but the Royals were able to kill it. As he left the penalty box Labelle outraced a Cyclone defender to the puck and hit the empty net to salt away a tough 4-2 decision, Mark Dekanich got the start in goal and recorded the win. On Sunday the club struggled out of the gate as the Cyclones went ahead 2-0 early in the second period. Late in the period the Royals were awarded a power play, Kevin Sundher's goal with three seconds left on the clock made it 2-1 at the intermission. That goal lit a fire under the team for the third period, they scored three goals in the first six minutes. Nick Luukko's goal tied the score, fifty-seven seconds later Matt Wilkins gave the Royals the lead. Justin Crandall made it 4-2 a minute and-a-half later, the three scores coming in a 2:22 stretch of play. Late in the period Mike Pelech added an insurance marker, the final score was 5-2 for winning goaltender Martin Ouellette. The weekend sweep improves the record to 9-8-2, 3-3 at home. The boys stay home for a date with Wheeling on Wednesday the 30th. Take care, thanks for reading.