Reading, PA – The Reading Royals, affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and AHL’s Manchester Monarchs, held their 4^th Annual Fan’s Choice Awards presented by the Reading Eagle last night at the Inn at Reading.  The festive event featured the 2004-05 Reading Royals hockey club, as well as front office staff and 300 patrons.

 

The Mardi-Gras themed event highlighted outstanding performances during the 2004-05 regular season.  Fans were encouraged to vote via the Reading Eagle newspaper leading up to the event.  This season featured a brand new award, the Iron Man of the Year Award.  Each award was presented by a local sponsor based on results from fan voting.  Rookie goaltender #33 Barry Brust and second-year professional, forward #13 Jon Francisco won a pair of awards.  Brust, under contract with the Los Angeles Kings, claimed the Rookie of the Year presented by the Works of Wyomissing and the Most Valuable Player presented by the Auto Spa of Wyomissing.  It was the second year in a row that a goaltender was voted as the team’s MVP (2004-Cody Rudkowsky).  Francisco was voted the Team’s Iron Man presented by DeCarlo Custom Cabinetry and Fan’s Choice presented by the Reading Eagle Company.

 

First-time winners included current leading scorer #15 Graig Mischler as the Offensive Player of the Year Award presented by Nathaniel Ehrlich, Esquire, the Defensive Player of the Year presented by V&M Towing was awarded to #7 Reagan Rome and the Unsung Hero Award presented by Rieck’s Printing went to veteran #22 Larry Courville.

 

For the second straight season, the Royals auctioned off the V&M Towing warm-up jerseys at the conclusion of the banquet.  Nearly $9,000 was generated from the live auction to benefit Royals Charities.

 

Rookie of the Year  (The Works of Wyomissing)

1.        Jeff Miles

2.        Ryan Kinasewich

3.       Barry Brust

4.        Tommy Galvin

5.        Beau Geisler

 

Defensive Player of the Year (V&M Towing)

1.        Mikko Viitanen

2.        Adam Borzecki

3.       Reagan Rome

4.        Beau Geisler

 

Iron Man of the Year Award  (DeCarlo Custom Cabinetry)

1.       Jon Francisco

2.        Beau Geisler

3.        Mike Sandbeck

 

1.      Graig Mischler

2.        Ryan Kinasewich

3.        Eric Fortier

4.        Jon Francisco

 

1.       Larry Courville

2.        Cail MacLean

3.        Jon Francisco

4.        Tommy Galvin

 

1.        Ryan Kinasewich

2.        Graig Mischler

3.       Barry Brust

4.        Eric Fortier

 

1.        Cail MacLean

2.        Cody Rudkowsky

3.        Adam Borzecki

4.       Jon Francisco

 

 

Reading travels to Dayton for the final time this Friday to battle the Bombers.  The Royals return home on Saturday to face the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies at 7:05 p.m.  The first 1,000 fans through the gate receive a flashlight for American Cancer Society’s right to life.  The Peoria Rivermen visit the Sovereign Center for the first of two pivotal battles in three days.  It’s the fourth and final set of Royals trading cards courtesy of Rieck’s Printing, which will be awarded to the first 2,500 fans through the gates.  The Royals and Rivermen drop the puck at 1:05 p.m. 

 

Follow the Royals home and away on the Royals Radio Network presented by Casa Grande Ristorante in West Lawn.  ESPN Radio, 1240AM, B2 Networks and Sportsjuice via the Royals website at www.royalshockey.com bring you all 72 exciting Royals games.  The Classic Café pregame show begins approximately 30-minutes prior to faceoff.

 

For ticket information including; prorated season, half-season, quarter-season, voucher packs and group ticket packages visit the Royals website at www.royalshockey.com or call the Royals Hockey Headquarters at 610-898-PUCK (7825).  Royals hockey…BLEED PURPLE!