December 13-14

There are occasions in the world of sports where the most unusual things can happen, Saturday was definitely a prime example. The Royals returned home for a two-game set with the Norfolk Admirals, earlier in the day the Phantoms made an AHL-level trade for a player named Hunter Johannes. He grabbed a plane, flew into Philadelphia where he was met by a member of the Royals booster club and driven to the Arena in time to be in uniform. On this night he was a most welcome addition as he scored three goals in leading the Royals to a 7-3 win. The score was actually tied 3-3 midway through the second period before the Royals pulled away, the club supported Johannes' effort with single scores from Carson Golder, Carter Berger (pronounced "BER-zher"), Alec Butcher and Nolan Burke with Keith Petruzzelli earning the victory in goal. Johannes' hattrick was the fifty-first in franchise history and the first ever by a Royal in his debut with the club. In the rematch on Sunday afternoon the proceedings were somewhat calmer, goals by Brandon Saigeon and Alec Butcher gave the Royals a 2-0 lead entering the third period. Norfolk got on the board early in the period but in the closing moments Saigeon found the empty net to wrap up the 3-1 victory for Yaniv Perets. The weekend sweep improves the club's mark to 13-10-2, 7-5 at home. The Adirondack Thunder visits on Wednesday the 17th and Friday the 19th, Take care, thanks for reading.