Royals season from hell continues

READING , Pa – Before the season started, the Reading Royals changed affiliates, changed head coaches, and changed over 80 percent of the roster that lost in the second round of the ECHL North Division playoffs.
 
What also changed with the team was it’s fortunes. With only 18 games remaining in the Royals season from hell, the only goal now is the avoid being called the worst team in their franchises 8 year history. The Royals have a record of 17-13-2-2 (38 points).
 
The team low for wins in a season is 27, set by the first Royals team in 2001-02. That team also set a franchise low of 182 goals scored. So far the Royals have scored 159 in 54 games. The franchise high for goals allowed a whopping 303 goals which was set in the teams second season. The next worst seasons defensively were in 2007 and in 2008 when the Royals allowed 235, and 233 respectively. So far the Royals have allowed 205, so that record should still stand at seasons end.

 
If nothing else the fans are still loyal averaging 4,923 a night in attendance, which ranks the team seventh in the league. Not bad considering all things, but it is still the worst in franchise history. Still, if the team bounces back next season, so will the fans.
 
Their have been very few positives this season but there have been a few. Rookie goaltender Michael Ouzas is 19^th in the league in goals against average (3.00) and is 16^th in save percentage (.906).
 
Brock Hooton is once again having a solid season for the Royals. Hooton has 17 goals and 27 assists to lead the team in points with 44. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Tyler Doig has only 11 goals but leads the team in assists with 29. Kirk MacDonald leads the team in goals with 21. Mac Faulkner has been a find with 15 goals and 18 assists.
 
On defense Tim Branham has only 1 goal, but has 21 assists since signing with the now defunct Augusta Lynx.
 
While the penalty killing unit might be the leagues worst, the power play is a respectable 12^th overall.  So take heart Royals fans, the season is almost over. In the mean time you can root for the Ontario Reign since roughly half the team currently plays under former Royals Head Coach Karl Taylor. Ontario is first in the Pacific Division and will surely make the playoffs.
 
If that is out of the question, the Hershey Bears who play an hour from Reading in the AHL are one of, if not the best team in the league with a 37-17-0-4 record (78 points). Only two other teams in the AHL have more points than the Bears, the Manitoba Moose (81), and the Grand Rapids Griffins (79).
 
Than of course there is the Philadelphia Flyers who are in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff chase. With the NHL trade deadline fast approaching, you can bet the Flyers will try to add at least one more piece to their Stanley Cup puzzle.
 
But hey, if that doesn’t make you smile, the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies regular season starts in April.
 
So cheer up Royals fans, as they always say, just wait until next year.
 
Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com
Contact the photographer at lewis.bleiman@prohockeynews.com