Reading Royals, End of Season Review

The Royals Review

(April 21-May 12)

Season at an end after Royals make ‘history’

READING, Pa. – Making history is often a good thing. That wasn’t the case for the Reading Royals this season.

The ECHL affiliate of the Maple Leafs and Marlies made it to this year’s American Conference finals and were in complete control after winning three straight against Cincinnati. But that’s where the history part comes in. Reading lost the next four games and became the first team in the 22-year history of the league to lose a best-of-seven series after taking the first three games. So the Royals, who just completed their ninth season, are still looking for their first trip to the Kelly Cup Finals).

While Cincinnati (the ECHL affiliate of Nashville and Montreal) battles Idaho (Dallas’ affiliate) for the Kelly Cup, the Royals will start their summer thinking about how close they were to a very special season. That’s especially true after losing game seven in Cincinnati, 1-0. To be sure, the team accomplished plenty. And some of the players with Leafs/Marlies connections made big strides during the season and the playoffs. But no one goes home happy when you drop your last game – let alone ending the season with a four-game losing streak.  

Here’s how the Toronto-contracted players fared during the series versus Cincinnati (with 2010 ECHL playoff statistics).

Alex Berry – The Danvers, Mass. native spent most of this series as the 10^th forward (ECHL teams dress 16 skaters per game). As such, he didn’t get loads of ice time. But when he did get on the ice, generally at LW, he certainly wasn’t out of place. He was generally responsible on defence and showed enough that he was in the lineup for all the team’s playoff games. (16 GP-2G-4A- +3 -4 PIM)

Stefano Giliati – In the four games he played against Cincinnati, the LW had some good performances. But he also had some where he wasn’t particularly effective. He did get lots of ice time and saw power play duty as well. But consistency was lacking in his game during the playoffs. He’ll have to find that if expects to make noise with the Marlies next season. (13 GP-4G-4A-  -1 -16PIM)

Ben Gordon – He was second on the team in assists during the playoffs but was unable to generate much offence when the going got tough in the latter stages of the series. The second-year pro LW is an excellent skater (as evidenced by his four call-ups to the AHL this season) and a real “skill” player, but his 5-11, 180-pound stature may work against him in the future. Late in the series he was playing on the boards when the Royals needed forwards to go to the net. Although he’ll never be a power forward, he still needs to develop that part of his game. (Under contract to Reading.) (16 GP-2G-12A- +3 – 8 PIM)

Todd Perry – The Ingleside, Ont. native didn’t contribute as physically as he might have during the series, but the defenceman did see plenty of penalty-killing time and was on the ice against some of Cincinnati’s best forwards. He’ll never be a big point contributor so he’ll have to ramp up the body-contact segment of his game to be effective at higher levels. (16 GP-0G-1A- -1 -6 PIM)

Joey Ryan – He was the eighth defenceman during the series and only got into a game as a result of suspensions to a couple of teammates. (2 GP-0G-0A- -1 -12 PIM)

Greg Scott– Was named the second star for scoring the game-winning goal in game two. After spending most of the regular season with the Marlies, the RW from Victoria, B.C. seemed to get the most out of the playoff run with the Royals. He was solid at both ends of the ice, showed a physical nature to his game and displayed fine puck-handling ability. He’s got the potential to be a solid contributor with the Marlies next season. (13 GP-1G-9A- +1 -0 PIM)

Andrew Engelage – Got his first pro playoff action in game five of the series. He played the third period in a mop-up role. It was his first game since returning from the Marlies a month ago. The only shot to beat him was high to the glove side during a 4-on-3 power play. (1 GP – 0-0 – 3.00 GAA – .857 SV%)

Blast from the past – Reid Cashman, who appeared in 15 games with the Marlies in 2007 and 2008, was one of the mainstays on the Cincinnati blue line during the series. After seeing action with Milwaukee in the AHL during both the regular season and the Calder Cup playoffs, he’s contributed five assists in nine games thus far for the Cyclones in the Kelly Cup tournament.