News release
3 March 2012
Reading, Pa. - Mike Radja returned from a month-long stint in the AHL with a hat trick on Saturday night at the Sovereign Center, leading the Elmira Jackals (35-21-2-2) to a 4-1 win over the Reading Royals (27-25-3-4).
Radja, who rejoined the Jackals earlier in the day from the Houston Aeros, finished off a centering feed from Artem Demkov just 1:21 into the first period to put Elmira up 1-0.
With the Jackals on their first power play, the Royals' Matt Caruana poked a puck out to center, raced into Elmira's end, and pushed the puck past Brian Stewart to give Reading a short-handed goal and tie the game, 1-1, at 13:45.
Moments later, Elmira went on its second power play and took the lead right back. Radja stole a pass from Mikael Bedard and fired a puck from the slot past Mark Owuya to put the Jackals back in front, 2-1, at 15:25.
The Jackals extended their lead to two goals in the middle frame, as Dustin Gazley drove a loose puck past Owuya from the slot to make it 3-1 at 9:48. Radja had the assist on the goal, giving the fourth-year pro a four-point evening.
Radja took a puck at the top of the left circle, spun around to the slot, and wristed a puck in at 11:28 for his hat-trick goal, putting the contest away by increasing Elmira's advantage to 4-1.
Stewart (20-10-1-0) made 27 saves on 28 shots in the victory, his sixth against the Royals this season. Owuya (8-2-2-1) turned aside 32 shots in the loss, one night after making 47 saves for Reading in a 3-1 win over the Jackals.
Radja's hat trick was Elmira's third of the season, as Evan Barlow (Oct. 14) and Louie Caporusso (Dec. 17) also netted three goals in a game for the Jackals. The game was Elmira's final contest at the Sovereign Center this season. The Jackals ended their road series against the Royals with points in seven-straight games and with an overall record of 6-1-2-0 at the Sovereign Center this season. The win by more than two goals was Elmira's fifth of the season and first since Jan. 21. Radja was initially loaned by Elmira to Houston on Jan. 13, returned to the Jackals for one game on Jan. 29, and went back to the Aeros on Feb. 1. Prior to the game, Elmira placed forward Corey Bellamy on waivers