Royals sweep weekend over Norfolk

NORFOLK, VA –The Reading Royals scored a pair of power-play markers (2-for-5) and swept the two-game weekend at the Norfolk Admirals, 5-2, Saturday at the Norfolk Scope. Frank DiChiara (1 goal, 1 assist) scored on the man up in the first period and Reading was ahead, 3-1, after one. Adam Schmidt (1 goal, 1 assist) added an insurance power-play goal in the second period. The Royals 2-0-0-0 to begin the season-long, six-game road trip.

Joe Houk (1 goal, 1 assist) and Michael Huntebrinker (1 goal, 1 assist) also scored. Huntebrinker has at least a point in 21 of 22 ECHL games this season and has scored goals in consecutive games since returning from the AHL.

Branden Komm made 14 saves in the first, 13 in the second and completed the win with 37 denials (2 goals allowed). The Admirals went 0-for-5 on the man up.

Ty Reichenbach suffered the defeat with 20 saves (4 goals allowed).

The Royals buried late goals in the first period and took a two-goal advantage into intermission. At 13:10 of the first, Huntebrinker started the scoring, taking the puck up through the middle of the ice on a two-on-one to the Ads left circle. He sniped it under the left arm for his 13th of the campaign. The Royals started a power play in the next minute; 15 seconds into the man advantage DiChiara cannoned a one-timed slap shot in at the right-wing dot, assisted by Huntebrinker to provide the Royals a 2-0 edge with 5:14 remaining in the first. Jake Wood cut the Royals lead to 2-1 with 1:37 to go in the first, sniping a top-shelf shot in above Komm’s shoulder.

Reading beat the buzzer with their next goal to make it 3-1. With 6.5 seconds left, Houk drove net front and Jack Riley struck it off Reichenbach’s leg. The rebound bounded to the slot and Houk buried it ten feet from the cage.

Halfway through the second, Luke Nogard slammed home a shot at the right post. Reading responded five minutes later on the man up to retake a two-goal advantage, 4-2. Houk lasered a shot from the deep slot and Adam Schmidt deflected it with a waving swing through Reichenbach.

Tyler Brown iced the game with an empty-net goal in the final minute.

Reading continues its six-game road trip Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Newfoundland. The next Royals home game is Friday, March 15th vs. Indy at 7 p.m.