Losses mounting for reeling Royals

A rash of injuries and AHL call-ups have left Reading scrambling to fill holes in the lineup.

By Julie Pelchar Reading Eagle

   In four years of coaching, Reading's Derek Clancey had never seen the likes of what transpired last week. 

   Having started 3-0-1, the Royals were rolling and appeared ready for any injury or call-up that came their way, considering their depth and talent.
   But Clancey never imagined he’d lose three of his best players — a pair of all-stars and a two-year American Hockey League pro — over a course of six days, which was exactly what happened at precisely the wrong time.
   During Reading’s 5-2 win at Toledo Oct. 25, the Royals lost center Graig Mischler to a broken hand and right winger Judd Medak to a strained shoulder muscle.
   Their injuries, combined with Geoff Peters and Leon Hayward being called to AHL teams, left Reading without four forwards to face the likes of Johnstown’s Arturs Irbe, the two-time NHL All-Star who appeared in the 2002 Stanley Cup finals, and Wheeling’s Martin Brochu, a long-time AHL goaltender.
   Then bad luck rubbed salt into Reading’s wounds, and four less forwards quickly became five.
   Just minutes into Friday’s game against Wheeling, a deceptively mild hit benched Kent Davyduke for the rest of the night. Injured all-star No. 2 was taken to the hospital with concussion symptoms.
   Davyduke sat out the next two nights, and the Royals finished with losses Friday and Saturday and an overtime shootout loss Sunday, dropping to 3-2-2.
   "In four years of coaching, I’ve never had three players of that magnitude hurt all in one swoop," said Clancey, who still seemed shocked Monday afternoon.
   It’s a story all too familiar for Royals faithful.
   For when it rains in Reading, it pours, as it did throughout the entire Los Angeles Kings organization last year, when injuries besieged its NHL, AHL and ECHL clubs.
   This first deluge under the Clancey regime has Coach scratching his head.
   "It kind of makes you take a step backward and wonder," Clancey said, "if the L.A. Kings organization all the way down is a little jinxed."
   
Still up, away: With two shutouts in as many games, Royals goaltender Adam Hauser will remain in Manchester, Reading’s American Hockey League affiliate, for at least the next 12 days, according to Monarchs coach Bruce Boudreau.
   Hauser and another ECHL goalie, the Florence (S.C.) Pride’s Matt Underhill, have proven thus far they’re capable of filling the skates of Manchester’s top two, Milan Hnilicka and Mathieu Chouinard, both of whom are rehabbing groin injuries.
   Hauser and Underhill have helped the Monarchs win three straight, with Hauser stopping 56-of-56 shots in 120 minutes and Underhill earning a win Saturday night.
   Reading, barring a call from Worcester looking for Cody Rudkowsky, will leave Wednesday night for a pair of weekend games in Peoria with goalies Rudkowsky and Terry Denike.
   Particularly frustrating to the short-handed Royals is the fact that two forwards they desperately needed this weekend — center Geoff Peters and right winger Leon Hayward — haven’t been playing with their respective AHL teams.
   Peters hasn’t appeared in any of Rochester’s last five games. Hayward played in neither of Manchester’s games last weekend.
   
Ice chips: Reading center Graig Mischler's broken hand is still sore. He is questionable for this weekend, as is right winger Judd Medak (shoulder strain). Center Kent Davyduke (head injury) is day-to-day. He hasn’t been placed on sevenday injured reserve. . . . Royals coach Derek Clancey is appealing a call from Friday’s game to the ECHL. Enforcer Dave Stewart was given a game misconduct for being the third man in to an altercation.
   Contact Julie Pelchar at 610-371-5065 or japelchar@readingeagle.com.