READING, PA – The Jacksonville Icemen’s opening road trip of the season has not been what they had hoped for. With a record on the road trip of 1-3, Jacksonville finished it up in Reading, Pennsylvania playing a Royals team that stood with a record of 5-3-1 including an undefeated record of 4-0 at home.
After starting every game this season in goal for Jacksonville, Jamie Philips got the night off as Colton Phinney started in net for the Icemen while Reading started John Muse, who went into the game with a record of 2-1-1.
The only goal of the first period belonged to Reading. Steven Swavely scored his second of the season at 16:14 mark off assists by James de Haas and Adam Schmidt. The first period was also relativity free of penalties, with the only ones of the period both coming 9:24 when Jimmy Lodge was called for slashing and Dajon Mingo was called for holding. Reading outshot Jacksonville in the first period 12-7.
Reading took a two goal lead five minutes into the second period when Matt Wilkins got his first of the season with assists from Tyler Brown and de Haas. Jacksonville would then get on the board on the power play when Emerson Clark recorded his second of the season. The assists on the goal came from Chase Harrison and Jan Kostalek at 12:42.
Reading got the two goal lead back 43 seconds later when Adam Schmidt recorded his first of the season. James de Haas got his third assist of the game with the other going to Frank Hora.
Penalties were low again in the second, with Jacksonville only getting two minors and Reading one. Jacksonville outshot Reading for the period 12-10 but trailed after two periods in total shots 22-19.
Reading just kept it as the game went into the third period when they extended the lead to 4-1. Matt Willows did the honors, recording his third of the season off assists by Ryan Penny and de Hass, who recorded his fourth assist/point of the night.
Finally for Jacksonville, the game and the trip would come to an end but not before Reading recorded one more goal, this time an empty netter by Alex Krushelnyski, his third of the season. Steven Swavely and goalie John Muse got the assists, making the final score Reading 5 and Jacksonville 1.
Icechips: Jacksonville would score on their only power play opportunity while Reading went 0-7… Reading had only two penalty minutes in the game, Jacksonville had 24… Reading outshot Jacksonville in the third 14-6 and for the game 36-25… Attendance for the game was 4,260 on a building capacity of 6,576… The three stars of the game were all from Reading. First star went toe James de Hass, who had 4 assists on the night. Second went to Adam Schmidt and third to Frank Hora… Jacksonville now returns home for a short two-game homestand. First up is the school day game on Tuesday with a 10:30 a.m. start time with the South Carolina Stingrays while Reading goes off on a three game road trip. First off for them, they will visit Manchester for the Monarchs school day special. The game is next Wednesday with a 10 a.m. start time.
Contact the author at kenneth.holdren@prohockeynews.com
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