The Royals completed the 2013-14 regular season by going 1-1-0-1 in a three game road trip through Florida, which started with a 3-2 shootout loss to the Florida Everblades on April 9, continued with a 3-2 regulartion loss to the Everblades on April 11, and finished with a 1-0 shootout win over the Orlando Solar Bears on Saturday.
2. Although last Wednesday’s shootout loss snapped a five game win streak for the Royals-and Friday’s 3-2 regulation snapped what was a six game unbeaten streak (5-0-0-1)-the team finished the season 16-3-1-1 in the team’s last 21 games; 18-4-1-1 in the last twenty-four; and 31-10-1-2 in the final 44 games of the regular season dating back to Jan. 8.
3. The Royals ended the 2013-14 regular season with a record of 46-22-2-2=96, which placed the team in first place in the Eastern Conference. The Royals were the only team in the league to win 46 games this season. The team’s .667 win percentage was third best in the league behind the Alaska Aces (.683), who won the Brabham Cup (best regular season record in the ECHL), and the Ontario Reign (.669).
4. The team’s 46 wins tied the team record set last year. The 96? points in the standings recorded by the Royals this year is the second most in team history. Last year’s Kelly Cup Champion team registered 99 points in the standings in the regular season.
5. Reading completed the season twenty-four games over .500, which is second best in team history only to last year’s club which finished the season 27 games over .500 (46-19-7).
6. Since the 1-5-0-1 start in the 2012-13 season, in the last 159 games over the past two seasons (including playoffs) the Royals have compiled a record of 107-41-11, which translates into a .708 win percentage.
7. Head Coach Larry Courville just completed his fifth full season with the Royals. In 398 total regular season games, Coach Courville’s teams have an overall record of 224-140-34, which is a .606 win percentage. Courville has coached 51 postseason games and compiled a record of 31-17-3 in those games.
8. This year, the Royals won the team’s second consecutive Eastern Conference regular season title, as well as the team’s fourth regular season divisional title in team history.
9. The Royals will kick off the Eastern Conference
quarterfinal series against the eighth seeded Fort
Wayne Komets April 17 at Santander Arena in Reading. This marks the ninth time in the 13 year history of the organization – and fifth consecutive year – in which the team qualified for the post-season.
10. Over the past four years under Coach Courville, the Royals have compiled a record of 101-63-16 record in 180 regular season road games, which translates into a .606 win percentage on the road.
11. All three games played this past week by the Royals were against teams from the South Division. In 13 games against the South this year, the Royals went 7-5-0-1. Reading ended the regular season with a winning composite record against each of the three divisions in the Eastern Conference, going 23-6-0-2 against the Atlantic, and 16-11-0-1 against the North.
12. Reading completed the three game regular season series against the Florida Everblades this past week. After losing in a shootout on April 9 to the Everblades, and getting dropped in regulation time on April 11, the Royals’ record fell to d0-2-0-1 against Florida. The Everblades were one of three teams in the East that the Royals did not beat this year. The others were: (i) the Greenville Road Warriors (0-2-0-0); and (ii) the Cincinnati Cyclones (0-4-0-0)/.
13. Saturday’s game against the Orlando Solar Bears completed the regular season series against Orlando. Reading won both games played against the Solar Bears this season (2-0-0-0). The only other team that Reading swept this season was the Gwinnett Gladiators (3-0-0-0).
14. The Royals scored first in all three games played this past week, and ended up scoring the game’s first goal in 39 of the 72 games played (54.2% of the regular season schedule). Reading compiled a record of 28-9-1-1 in those games, which is a .744 win percentage, which is slightly higher than the .739 win percentage that Reading had compiled over the twelve seasons of play prior to entering this season.
15. Reading held a lead in both games that the team lost to Florida this past week. Over the course of the season, Reading blew leads and failed to win 11 times this season. In two of those blown lead games-including the April 9 3-2 shootout loss to the Everblades-Reading held a two-goal lead.
16. The team record for the fewest blown leads in regular season games in a single season is nine, which occurred three times. 2003-04; 2004-05 and 2012-13). The most blown lead games in a single season for the Royals was 22, which occurred in 2011-12.
17. In Wednesday’s shootout loss to Florida, Reading held a 2-0 lead entering the third period. That game represented the 37th time this year that the Royals held a lead entering the third period and only the third time that Reading failed to win under those circumstances (34-1-1-1).
18. Reading only scored five total goals in the final three games of the regular season-and one of those goals was credited to the team as a result of the shootout win over Orlando on Saturday. Nonetheless, the Royals ended the year as the fourth leading scoring team in the league with 229 goals scored over the course of the year, which translates into a 3.18 goals per game average.
19. The 229 total goals scored by the Royals this season is tied with the 2011-12 team for the seventh most goals in team history. The 2002-03 Royals set the team record for goals scored with 261 (3.63 goals/game). Last year, Reading scored 246 goals (3.42 goals/game).
20. Reading only allowed a total of five goals against in the three games played this past week-and one of those goals was credited to the Florida Everblades as a result of the shootout winner in Wednesday’s game. Over the course of the season, Reading allowed only 182 goals against, which translates into a team goals against average of 2.53-which was fourth best in the league.
21. The 182 goals allowed this year is the second fewest goals allowed in team history. The 2004-05 Royals established the team record when the opposition scored just 161 goals on the Roayls, which translates into a 2.24 team goals against average (which led the ECHL that season). Last year, the Royals allowed 185 goals against (which was a 2.57 team goals against average).
23. Saturday’s 1-0 win over the Orlando Solar Bears marked the Royals’ (and goaltender Brandon Anderson’s) fifth shutout of the year. That ties the second most team shutouts in the history of the club. (The Royals also had five shutouts in 2010-11 and 2012-13). The team record for shutouts in a single season was established in 2004-05 when Reading blanked the opposition eight times.
24. Saturday’s 1-0 shootout win over Orlando marked the 15th regular season game in Royals’ history that was resolved by a 1-0 score, which includes a 1-0 win for the Solar Bears over the Royals last season (on February 28, 2013 ) at Amway Center in Orlando. Historically, Reading has a record of 6-9-0-0 in regular season games resolved by a 1-0 score. Reading has also played in seven playoff games resolved by a 1-0 score (and compiled a record of 3-4 in those playoff 1-0 games).
?25. In the shootout on Wednesday, the Royals’ shooters were only able to score once (by Yannick Tifu, shooting second); while Reading’s shooters went three-for-four in Sunday’s shootout win over the Solar Bears. Overall this season, Reading scored on 14 of the 33 shootout shots attempted, which is 42.4 percent scoring ratio – second best in the league. That is also the second best shooting percentage in Royals’ shootout history
26. Brandon Anderson was in the net for both shootouts this weekend. On April 9 against Florida, he was touched up on three of the four attempts by the Everblades’ shooters, but on Sunday, he rejected three of the four attempts by the Orlando shooters. Over the season, Reading goaltenders were beaten by the opposition 31.4 percent of the attempts taken in the shootout this year, which was 11th in the league.
27. Over the course of the season, Reading generated 2253 shots on goal, which is an average of 31.29 shots per game, which was sixth in the league. That was also the sixth fewest shots taken in the 13 year history of the team. The 2003-04 Royals generated 34.19 shots on goal per game to establish the team record.
28. Reading allowed just 2084 shots against per game, which is an average of 28.94 shots against per game-eighth best in the league. That is the third fewest shots allowed in team history. Last year’s club set the team record, allowing just 26.89 shots per game; the 2004-05 club allowed just 27.86 shots per game.
29. The Royals power play was blanked in all three games played this past week, going collectively 0-for-11 in the last six games, the Roayls’ PP has scored just two goals in 25 chances with the man advantage (8.0 percent scoring ratio).
30. Over the course of the regular season, Reading’s power play was held off the board in 35 of the 72 games played and compiled a record of 15-17-1-2 in those games.
?31. Reading’s penalty kill gave up one power play goal (the second by Florida in Friday’s 3-2 loss) in eleven total chances with the man advantage for the oppostion last week. In the final 15 games of the regular season, Reading’ PK gave up just three power play goals against in 43 chances with the man advantage for opposition, which is a 93.0 kill ratio.
32.sThe Royals had the best penalty kill in the league on the road this year, allowing just 13 power play goals against in 117 chances with the man advantage away from Santander Arena for an 89.9 percent kill ratio. At home, the Royals killed at an 84.4 percent clip.
33. Although Domenic Monardo ended the season on a four game goal scoring drought, he led the Royals with 27 goals. That is the most goals ever scored by first year pro for the Royals. That also led all rookies in the ECHL. Monardo’s 46 points (17g-19a) in 70 games played tied him for tenth amongst rookies in the league. His 10 power play goals led all rookies (and was tied for third overall in the league). Monardo also led all first-year pros in the league (and the Royals) with 214 shots, which was 23 shots more than the closest rookie to him. Five of Monardo’s 27 goals were game-winners, which was tied for third amongst first year pros in the ECHL.
34. Sean Wiles, who picked up an assist on the Royals first goal of the week (by Josh Brittain) was one of three Royals to end up with 19 goals on the season (the others being Yannick Tifu and T.J. Syner). His 26 assists and 45 points were career highs for him. Wiles has recorded 112 points (60g-52a) in 183 career regular season pro games.
35. T.J. Syner scored his third shootout winner of the year, shooting fourth for the Royals in Saturday’s shootout win over the Orlando Bears, which tied him for the league lead in that category. Although Syner ended the season on a five-game goal scoring drought, he set personal career offensive highs with the Royals this past season (19g-25a=44pts). In 72 career games with the Royals, Syner has recorded 63 points (28g- 35a), which places him 31st in the all-timeOcareer scoring ladder for the Royals, one point behind Head Coach Larry Courvill (whowhad 64 points in 152 games with the Royals).
36. Although defenseman Marvin Degon had his five game point streak (3g-5a) snapped in Wednesday’s shootout loss to Florida, he finished the season tied for fifth in defenseman scoring with 39 points (8g-31a) in 67 total games, which included 12 games with the Elmira
Jackals before he joined the Royals. (Thirty-four of his points were recorded in 55 games with Reading.) His 31 total assists tied him forf ourth most amongst defensemen. Seven of Degon’s eight goals this season were scored while the team was playing with the man advantage which was the second most power play goals amongst defensemen in the league. His eighteen total power play points was also second most for d-men.
37. Defenseman Michal Cajkovsky broke a seven game goal scoring drought when he scored the Royals’ second goal in the 3-2 loss to Florida last Friday. That was Cajkovsky’s 14th goal of the year, which tied him for second most amongst defensemen in the league. Cajkovsky, who led all first-year defensemen in the ECHL in scoring with 36 points in 56 games, became the third player in Royals’ history to be named to the ECHL All-Rookie team last year, joining defenseman T.J. Kemp (2005-06) and forward David Vallorani (2012-13). Cajkovsky fired 183 shots on goal in the regular season, which as tied for second most amongst defensemen in the league. His four-game-winning goals also tied him for second most amongst d-men in the league.
38. Although forward Ethan Cox had his eight game point (1g-8a) and assist streak snapped in Wednesday’s shootout loss in Florida, he bounced back to record his sixth multi-point game of the year (0g-2a) in Friday’s 3-2 loss to the Everblades. That eight game assist streak was tied for the third longest in the ECHL this season and helped him set personal career highs in assists (24) and points (36) this season. Cox, who played to even or better in the last 10 games of the season, led the Royals in plus-minus this year at plus-21 (+21).
?39. Kevin Walrod, who was picked up by the Royals after being waived by the Evansville Icemen on Jan. 6 (which coincides with the Royals remarkable 31-10-1-2 record in the final 44 games of the regular season), recorded 24 points (8g-16a) and played to a plus-15 (+15) in 39 games with Reading. Overall, including his five games in Evansville, Walrod played to a plus-18 (+18) this year.
?40. Defenseman Matt Campanale, who assisted on the Royals’ second goal in Wednesday’s 3-2 shootout loss, set ?career highs for goals (7), assists (19) and points (26)-and games played-in a team leading 71 games this season.
41. Although Brandon Blandina only had three points (1g-2a) in his last 15 games of the season, he tied his career high for goals? (7) and set personal career bests for assists (17) and points (24), 23 of which were recorded with the Royals in 55 games with Reading, during which he played to a plus 15 (+15).
42. Defenseman Aaron Gens picked up an assist in both games played against the Florida Everblades this past week. He finished the regular season with five goals and seventeen assists (22 points) in 46 games with the Royals-all of which are personal career bests.
43. Mike Banwell, who did not play during the recent road trip in Florida, finished the season on a three game point streak (1g-3a). He set personal career highs this season with three goals, sixteen assists and 19 points in 60 games with the Royals. He also played to a career best plus-14 (+14) over the course of the season.
44. Defenseman Bryant Molle, who picked up a helper in the Royals’ first goal in Florida on Friday, recorded a career high 11 assists in 67 games with the Royals this year. Molle, who led all defensemen on the team in plus-minus at plus-18 (+18), led the team in penalty minutes (100) and fighting majors (10). In 121 career games with the Royals over the last two seasons, Molle has racked up 193 penalty minutes, which is 16th most in team history (just four PIMs behind Head Coach Courville). He has also has engaged in eighteen career fights for the Royals, which is fifth most in team history.
45. Goaltender Brandon Anderson played all three games for the Royals this week, finishing the regular season with his 25th win of the year,Owhich is the second most in the 13 year history of the team for a goaltender in a single regular season. (Barry Brust won 27 in 2004-05). 46. With his 1-0 shutout-shootout win in the 72nd game of the regular season, Anderson also became the first goaltender in team history to record five shutouts in a single regular season. Those five shutouts placed him third in the league in that category.
47. In 29 appearances with the Royals this season, Anderson compiled a record of 25-10-1-1 with a 2.35 goals against average (seventh best in the league) and a .916 save percentage.
