News release
25 October 2013
ELMIRA, N.Y. - The Elmira Jackals welcomed a crowd of 3,685 on their home opener on Friday night, but the Reading Royals spoiled the party with a 3-1 victory over the Jackals. Elmira's record fell to 0-2-0 with the defeat.
The Jackals' speed and energy allowed them to control action for long stretches of play throughout the first period. They also pressured the Royals into three penalties that gave the Jackals some golden scoring opportunities. It all produced a 13-4 shot advantage for the stanza, but Reading goalie Riley Gill answered the bell at every call. At the other end of the ice, Elmira's Maxime Clermont had a moment of his own to shine. Reading's Domenic Monardo got loose on a breakaway and tried to slide it along the ice past Clermont. But the third-year pro trapped it underneath him and kept the Royals off of the board.
The second period was more of the same for the Jackals which meant plenty of scoring opportunities, but no pucks that got behind Gill. The first great chance came on a 2-on-0 shorthanded breakaway for Artem Demkov and Jordan Pietrus. Demkov deked and shot low glove side, but Gill sprawled to make the save. Towards the end of the period Jean Bourbeau had a shot trickle off of Gill towards an open net, but Reading defenseman Ryan Kavanagh swatted it away. Reading was able to capitalize on a broken play midway through the second and took a 1-0 lead on Domenic Monardo's first goal as a pro.
Reading's offense was sparked by a pair of former Jackals in the third period. Louie Caporusso deflected a point shot from Aaron Gens 1:52 into the stanza for what proved to be the winning goal. The Royals needed Gill's continued brilliance through the third as the Jackals continued to pepper him with shots. Jordan Pietrus gave Jordon Southorn a great look on a 2-on-1 but Gill's pokecheck kept the pass from ever reaching its target. Dustin Gazley then scored unassisted off of a turnover to put Reading ahead 3-0 with just under three minutes remaining. Rookie Ludwig Karlsson gave Elmira life at 18:21 with his first goal as a pro, but a comeback wasn't in the cards for Elmira tonight.
Clermont shouldered the loss while stopping 16 of 19 shots. Gill claimed the win with 33 saves. Elmira ended the game 0-for-4 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.