News release
4 January 2013
Friday, January 04, 2013ELMIRA, N.Y. - After a seven game road trip the Elmira Jackals are back tonight for their first home game since December 16. They will take on the division leading Reading Royals in the first of three consecutive games to end the week.
WHO: Elmira Jackals - Ottawa/NHL & Binghamton/AHL (15-14-3) vs. Reading Royal - Washington/NHL and Hershey/AHL (23-7-2)
WHAT: Elmira Jackals Home Game #17. The Jackals will honor Corning native, and former pro baseball player, Dave Clark prior to the game on Dave Clark Foundation Night.
The Jackals are facing the Royals tonight for the sixth of 16 meetings this season and fifth of eight at First Arena. The Jackals are 1-2-2 against the Royals this season but have not beaten them since opening night. That record includes a 1-2-1 mark at home. The Royals enter play tonight having earned a standings point in 11 straight games (10-0-1) and a 22-2-1 record in their last 25 games. Elmira has won three of its last four games in an attempt to close the gap on the first place Royals. The teams face off four times this month (three in Reading), but after Jan. 21 the rivalry will take a break until a Feb. 6 meeting in Elmira.
Tonight a pair of impactful rookies are expected to return to the Jackals' lineup. Defenseman Danny New has been out since December 2 with an injury and forward Darren Kramer hasn't suited up for the Jackals since November 30. New is the top scoring rookie for Elmira with nine points (1G, 8A) in 17 games, and despite missing 12 straight games he is 15th among rookie defensemen in scoring. Kramer has missed 13 straight games but is the Jackals' top rookie goal scorer with three tallies in eight contests. The former Ottawa Senators draft pick is seventh on the Jackals with 31 penalty minutes even though he is one of two players (along with Justin Daniels) on the Jackals' active roster yet to hit double digits in games played.