The Reading Royals have clinched the final playoff spot in the North Division after taking both games against the Worcester Railers this weekend. This is Reading’s 16th Kelly Cup Playoff appearance, and first since 2023. For the Royals, this comes a year after the Orlando Solar Bears clinched the last spot in the South Division last season in Reading, scoring in the final 30 seconds of the game. Reading will play the Trois-Rivieres Lions in the first round, which will begin on Friday. The Royals are 4-4 vs Trois-Rivieres this season.
Scoring By Committee Up Front
The Royals would be dealt a big blow early in the season as Todd Skirving suffered a season-ending injury in the middle of January. Reading’s captain would put up 11 goals and eight assists for nine points in 39 games before getting injured. Skriving was recently named the 2024-25 ECHL Community Service Award Winner. It’s the first time that a Royal has won this award.
The Royals have gotten scoring from multiple players this season, as nine players have 10+ goals this season. However, they missed that big goal scorer, which Skirving provided for them. Reading has looked to Matt Brown and Tyler Gratton to provide the offense for them up front. Brown had 19 goals in 54 games, and Gratton has 19 goals in 70 games.
Offensive Blueline Leading The Way For Reading
Gianfranco Cassaro has had a solid rookie year for the Royals, leading the team with 13 goals and 25 assists for 38 points in 66 games. Cassaro is fifth among rookie defensemen with 13 goals this season. Sam Sedley, another rookie defenseman, had eight goals and 29 assists for 37 points in 62 games this season. Robert Calisti, who was acquired by the Royals at the end of January, has brought not only experience but also some more offense to the Blueline. He has five goals and nine assists for 14 points in 22 games with Reading.
Goaltending
In between the pipes, the Royals have gone with the duo of Keith Petruzzelli and Vinnie Purpura for the majority of the season. Reading has used five different goaltenders this year and were one of three teams not to record a shutout.
Vinnie Purpura had the best numbers for the Royals this season. In 24 games this season, the 6’6 goaltender has gone 11-6-5 with a 2.49 GAA and .922SV%. Purpura went 15-4-4- with a 2.78 GAA, .908SV%, and one shutout last season with the Adirondack Thunder.
Petruzzeli, 26, had a 14-16-4 record this season with a 3.12 GAA and .901SV% in 34 games. Unlike Purpura, the Wilbraham, Massachusetts, native played in 19 games during the 2022 Kelly Cup Playoffs. He went 9-7-2 with a 3.04 GAA, and .895SV%.
ITR 39: Conference Finals – Inside The Rink
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