ROYAL THUMPING 

    VERSUS     

BY: Ray Schmitt, Voice of the Greenville Road Warriors

GREENVILLE, SC – The Greenville Road Warriors had their four-game winning streak snapped by the Reading Royals on Friday night at the BI-LO Center. The 7-3 defeat dropped Greenville’s record to 4-4-0 on the season.

Click here for tonight’s box score.

A wildly active first period saw the Road Warriors and Royals combine for 34 shots on goal, but despite their best efforts each team cashed in only a goal each. Greenville earned the 1-0 lead at 8:21 when Jeff Prough one-timed home his sixth goal of the season on the power play. Assists went to Justin Bowers and Brett Robinson. Reading responded with a rebound goal by Casey Haines at 17:29. It was Haines’ third of the season with the lone assist going to Chad Painchaud.

In the second period, Reading quickly broke the 1-1 tie and kept the offense coming as the Royals built a 6-1 lead. Marvin Degon got Reading started with his second goal of the season just 2:37 into the period with a shot that squeaked through Nic Riopel’s five-hole. Rob Shearer and Denny Urban added goals 42 seconds apart as the lead grew to 4-1 before the second was halfway over. Ryan Cruthers‘ first of the night at 14:28 chased Riopel from the net and Jason Missiaen came on for his first professional action. He was greeted with a power play goal by Olivier Labelle at 15:42 to finish off the second period scoring. Greenville managed 12 shots in the frame, but Karel St. Laurent turned aside each one.

The Road Warriors picked up two goals in the third period with Prough scoring one and setting up Justin Bowers for another but it was not enough to pull back even with the Royals. Cruthers set up Painchaud in a 2-on-1 to put Reading back up by four goals at 7-3 after Bowers had cut the deficit to three. In relief of Riopel, Missiaen ended the night with 10 saves. Greenville set a new team record with 47 shots on goal but St. Laurent turned away 44 of them.

Riopel sustained his first loss of the season with 28 saves in 34:38 of work. Greenville was 2-for-3 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.

Mark your calendars! The Road Warriors are back on home ice to battle the Florida Everblades on Saturday, November 5 at 7:05 p.m. Bring your BI-LO BONUSCARD to the Breakaway Honda Box Office at the BI-LO Center beginning two hours prior to the game to claim up to four complimentary tickets for you and your family in the BI-LO Family Fun Section. Seating is limited and based on availability. If you have a group of 10 or more be sure to book in advance to save off the box office price and get preferred seating based on availability. Call 864-674-PUCK (7825) to plan your group outing with the Road Warriors.