Reading Royals Review

TMLfans.ca guest columnist Barry Schickling returns with one of his regular updates on the Leafs prospects playing for the Reading Royals of the ECHL.

The Royals Review

(Dec. 14-Dec. 28)

READING, Pa. – The last couple weeks have been productive ones for the Royals. Despite playing only two home games this month, Reading has rolled to a nine-point lead over Elmira in the East Division of the ECHL’s American Conference. With a record of 18-10-1-2, Reading has ascended to second place in the 12-team conference. The down side is that injuries and other recalls in Toronto, especially with the Marlies, have left the Royals to start the last week of 2009 with just two players under contract to the Blue and White. Things have been going so well in Reading that the Marlies even signed LW Ben Gordon to a pro tryout contract. Gordon, who played a couple games in the AHL with Providence earlier this season, added a goal in his second outing with Toronto in a loss at Hamilton on Dec. 28.

Here’s a look at what the Toronto-contracted players have been up to over the past two weeks (with this season’s ECHL statistics).

Stefano Giliati – The left winger had both a goal and an assist in a pair of games with Reading prior to his recall to the Marlies. He added a goal for the Marlies in a loss at Hamilton on Dec. 28. (10G- 12A – +2 – 25 PIM)

Joey Ryan – The second-year pro was recalled to the Marlies along with Giliati. The defenceman was showing some improvement in the ECHL prior to being summoned to the AHL. (2G – 4A – -5 – 37 PIM)

Eric Werner – The defender has taken over the team lead in plus-minus and is playing well and confidently at both ends of the ice. He had a pair of assists in a win at Trenton (Dec. 27) and one of those came on the OT game winner. He’s tied for seventh in team scoring among active Royals. Considering that many of Reading’s top players are now in the AHL, Werner could very well end up as an all-star representative. (3G – 9A – +10 – 19 PIM)

Andrew Engelage – The former Windsor Spitfire star has finally returned to Reading after an extended stay with the Marlies. In his first game back in the ECHL, he stopped 46 of 49 shots in an OT win at Trenton. He’s won overtime games with both the Royals and Marlies this season. (4-1 – 3.32 GAA – .901 SV%)

One final note: The Reading saga of Beau Erickson has reached an end. The goaltender, who spent time with the Marlies earlier in the season and was signed to a Royals’ contract for a second time in November, was traded to Utah for future considerations on Dec. 21.