December 30-31

Friday night at Santander Arena for the final home date of the calendar year, the Wheeling Nailers were the opposition for the second of three regular-season visits. This was the first of five Friday home dates billed as "Flyer Fridays" featuring the Royals wearing Flyers-themed sweaters and a Flyers alumnus signing autographs, on this night it was Doug Crossman (a Flyer from 1983 to 1988 and a participant in the Alumni game we hosted back in February). The Royals goaltending situation is still in flux, with Martin Ouellette still in the AHL and Mark Dekanich on the disabled list the club acquired Austin Lotz on loan from the Arizona Coyotes organization. Lotz is a first-year pro who most recently played with Medicine Hat of the WHL. On this night he made his Reading debut and picked up the win and the game's #3 star. Justin Crandall scored late in the first period, the Nailers replied midway through the second to tie it 1-1. In the late going of the period Robbie Czarnik put the Royals back up but the pesky Nailers struck back midway through the third to square matters once again. Three minutes after the tying goal Chris McCarthy gave the Royals the lead for good, Crandall's insurance marker in the final minutes put away the 4-2 win. The Royals finish 2016 with a home ice mark of 9-4-0,the club's next home date is on January 6. On Saturday I was with Jenny for our usual lunch date, from there the calendar year expired quietly at home. New Years Eve is no big thing to me, unless you go out and get blasted (and I don't do that anymore although I had my moments in my younger years) it is a largely meaningless thing. The Royals were on the road for a 5:30 holiday game in Glens Falls and won it 5-2, the overall record entering 2017 stands at 18-11-2. Thanks for reading, see you in the New Year.