The Reading Royals (44-17-9) clinched the North Division and Eastern Conference titles on Friday night with a 5-4 overtime win over the Adirondack Thunder (27-38-4) at the Cool Insuring Arena.
Three minutes and twenty-five seconds into the first period. The Royals took a 1-0 lead by Brennan Saulnier (3) with assists from Kenny Hausinger and Garret Cockerill. Then at 9:21, the Thunder tied it up 1-1 on a goal by Billy Jerry (4) with assists from Ryan Smith and Patrick Grasso.
A minute and six seconds into the second period, the Royals took a 2-1 lead with a goal by Garrett Cecere (4) with assists from Brad Morrison and Patrick Bajkov. Fifty-one seconds later, the Royals made 3-1 on a goal by Brennan Saulnier (4).
However, the Thunder came back and scored two goals that tied the game 3-3 by Blake Thompson (5) and Luke Stevens (7). With less than two minutes left in the second period, the Royals took a 4-3 by Mason Millman (8) with assists from Kenny Hausinger and Garret Cockerill.
Midway through the third period, the Thunder tied it up 4-4 by Jarrod Gourley (1) with assists from Luke Stevens and Shane Harper. After sixty minutes, the game went to overtime.
Three minutes and seven seconds into overtime, Royals forward Kenny Hausinger (12) scored a game-winning goal for a 5-4 win. Garret Cockerill and Thomas Ebbing assisted his goal.
The Royals finished the night with 31 shots, 0/3 on the power-play, and Brody Claeys made 16 of 20 saves.
The Royals wrap up the regular season today against the Adirondack Thunder at 7 pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased thanks to our friends at StubHub.
