Royals bring down Thunder, take Kelly Cup with Game 5 victory

By Bob H
Posted on 05/26/2013 at 1:30 am

For the first time in 12 seasons, the King of the Jungle will get to wear his crown and roar some approval from the Schuylkill Valley to the Pacific Ocean. Brett Flemming, Ian O’Connor, T.J. Syner and Stan Galiev rippled the net in a four-goal second-period burst which helped Reading to a 6-0 victory over the Stockton Thunder, giving the Royals a Game 5 triumph and their first Kelly Cup title. Syner added a pair of assists and was a game-best plus-5, elevating his league-best total to plus-22. For the visitors, who endured a minor setback on Friday with a …

Royals crown Thunder, Gill’s ShO puts Reading two-up in Kelly Finals

By Bob H
Posted on 05/19/2013 at 7:00 pm

Riley Gill stopped all 27 shots he faced, and the Reading Royals rode a three-goal first-period explosion to subdue the Stockton Thunder by a 4-0 count in Game 2 of the Kelly Cup Finals on Sunday evening at Sovereign Center. “It’s certainly less stressful on the bench,” Royals head coach Larry Courville said about the difference between Game 2 and Game 1′s back-and-forth 6-5 overtime contest. “I’ve been pulling my hair out this year. The guys have done a great job winning those close games but it was nice not to go to OT.” Alex Berry, Brett Flemming and T.J. …

Southern Hockey on the Skids: Stop Macon Sense

By Bob H
Posted on 05/15/2013 at 2:00 pm

The first in a biweekly series this offseason where I let it all hang out. I will invite readers of Flyers Faithful to take a break from the maddening crush of rumors, draft picks, trades and free agents this Summer to read on and find out how I got here, and why I think, feel and write the way I do about the game hockey, the vagaries of the business and culture after almost 15 years navigating rough waters in sports media. A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away before massive internet proliferation made actual human contact …

Royals beat Cincinnati, roar into Kelly Cup Finals

By Bob H
Posted on 05/11/2013 at 11:11 pm

After a 12-year journey which included three previous busted attempts to reach the fourth and/or final round of the ECHL playoffs, the Royals finally got over the hump on Saturday night. Kirk MacDonald registered the winning goal just past the midway point of regulation and Riley Gill stopped 25 pucks as the Royals posted a 3-1 victory over the Cincinnati Cyclones in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Ian O’Connor and T.J. Syner also added scores while Dustin Stevenson tallied two assists for the top seed in the East, who will face Stockton in the Kelly Cup Finals beginning …

Chubak joins organization on AHL contract

By Bob H
Posted on 05/06/2013 at 8:00 am

The Phantoms goaltending situation for next season might have become a little clearer on Sunday, as the organization added heralded goaltender Carsen Chubak to an American Hockey League deal. As a junior, the 24-year-old backstop helped guide his program to an NCAA Tournament berth — a loss to North Dakota — but finished tied for first in all of D-I with six shutouts, along with a 1.91 goals-against average, .939 save percentage and 23-7-5 record. He was one of 10 original finalists for the Hobey Baker, but was left out of the final three. In three seasons with the Purple …

Phantoms to play one more year in Glens Falls

By Bob H
Posted on 05/03/2013 at 5:05 pm

According to a letter submitted by Adirondack Phantoms VP Chris Porreca to the Mayor of Glens Falls, New York, the club will remain in place for the 2013-14 season. The Post Star was first with the official word on Friday evening. That means, for a fifth and final campaign, the Flyers will have their American Hockey League affiliate playing in the Glens Falls Civic Center. While putting an end to the speculation about whether or not minor-league hockey will have a home there next season, there is a note of bittersweetness knowing the Phantoms will be departing for the Lehigh …

Homer sez (once and for all) Laviolette’s staying; more Flyers heading to Worlds

By Bob H
Posted on 04/29/2013 at 2:45 pm

He said it angrily. He said it calmly. The meaning didn’t change. Paul Holmgren reaffirmed the fact that Peter Laviolette will remain behind the bench next season for the Philadelphia Flyers. Exit interviews conducted team-wide back at their practice facility in Voorhees on Sunday, following Saturday’s season-ending 2-1 win at Ottawa revealed little scoop in that area, despite rumor and speculation that Laviolette’s job was in jeopardy after missing out on the playoffs. “Peter Laviolette’s the coach. I don’t know where all this crap came from,” said the perturbed GM at the mandatory presser. “I don’t know who your sources …

Team Canada’s World Championship roster has Flyers flair

By Bob H
Posted on 04/26/2013 at 2:00 pm

When the 2013 World Championships take place in both Helsinki and Stockholm from May 3-19, Team Canada will be there, with a dose of Philadelphia Flyers flair. As reported last night by TSN of Canada, four members of the Orange and Black were invited, and all have accepted out of the first 13 players to be named to the roster. Claude Giroux, Wayne Simmonds, Matt Read and Luke Schenn will all be sporting the Maple Leaf in Red and Black overseas. Giroux ranks first on the club with 33 assists and 47 points in 47 games. Simmonds ranks second in …

Agony of de-foot: Timonen out for rest of season

By Bob H
Posted on 04/23/2013 at 12:47 pm

It just keeps getting worser and worser for the Flyers blue line. Hours before a home game against the Boston Bruins, the club announced that veteran defenseman Kimmo Timonen will not play in the remaining three contests due to a broken right foot. Timonen, the presumptive winner of the Barry Ashbee Trophy as the team’s best defenseman through this slog of a 2013 schedule, had been the healthiest of all the club’s players to this point. But with no postseason on the horizon, it’s a smart move to drop the charade now and admit that an injury which could have …

Flyers recall four from Phantoms

By Bob H
Posted on 04/22/2013 at 4:50 pm

The Adirondack Phantoms’ season concluded this past weekend, and, since there will be no playoff hockey in the Glens Falls Civic Center, the Flyers decided to give four guys one last shot at glory. On Monday afternoon, forwards Jason Akeson, Scott Laughton, Tye McGinn and defenseman Matt Konan were recalled to Philadelphia. The Orange and Black have three games remaining on their 2013 schedule, beginning with Tuesday’s home game/reunion with Jaromir Jagr and the Boston Bruins. Akeson led Terry Murray’s club with 53 points (20G, 33A) in 62 games after being recalled from Trenton of the ECHL. Laughton made the …

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