I recently noticed that this blog has had over 30,000 views since its inception here in November of 2010. I have always appreciated what following I have, I don't know who would care about the drivel I talk about but whoever you are I thank you for your interest. Friday night at the Arena for the start of a three-game weekend and an unprecedented stretch of home games. From the 18th to the 27th the Royals play eight games in ten days (all at home), two three-game weekends plus a two-game midweek set of makeups from December. The club went 3-0-0 on the most recent road trip, on Friday the Adirondack Thunder visited as the weekend's lone opponent. It was Affiliation Night, the Royals wore Flyers-themed sweaters plus mascots Gritty (from the Flyers) and meLVin (from the Phantoms and the spelling IS correct) were in the house. The club's road success did not carry over on this night as the Thunder drew first blood on the weekend with a 3-2 decision. Grant Cooper and Patrick Bajkov scored for the Royals, goaltender Pat Nagle (back from a stint with the Phantoms and with Team USA at the Olympics in China) played his first game at the Arena since November and took the loss. Saturday was St. "Hattricks" Night, the Royals wore green-and-black Irish-themed sweaters and the ice was tinted green. A fan had a chance to win $10,000 if a Royal scored a hattrick, nobody came close as five players scored once each but it was good enough for a 5-2 victory. Frank Dichiara, Trevor Gooch, Mason Millman, Brad Morrison and Jacob Pritchard lit the lamp, Pat Nagle was in net for the second straight night and picked up the win. After a pair of 7:00 faceoffs we were back at it on Sunday afternoon at 3:00, the visitors from the North Country turned the tables and took the rubber match by an identical 5-2 score. The game was 2-2 entering the third period, ADK took the lead early on and clinched it with two late scores including an empty-netter. Thomas Ebbing and Jacob Pritchard accounted for the Royals' scoring, Hayden Hawkey made his first appearance in net at home since February and suffered the loss. The weekend results bring the club's mark to 34-14-8 overall and 16-6-4 at home, the Worcester Railers hit town for that two-game makeup set on Tuesday the 22nd. Take care, thanks for reading.
