Behind the Blue Sharpie: Reading Royals and Norfolk Admirals Friday Morning Skate (IP)

As with most home weekends, I pick a day in the week (Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday) to see the visiting team at the Norfolk Scope and also pick up any new Admirals. I got to the Scope at 9:38, checked to see if Peter Sidorkiewicz was smoking any cigarettes outside like last time, and then signed in. Sidorkiewicz and a few players were already on the ice. I first saw a player I didn't recognize but I wasn't able to ID him before he came on. I later figured out it was Brian Bowen. I noted he was wearing red and #15 (he hadn't previously been assigned a number). I caught Eric Roy coming onto the ice, who, after he signed, commented that he "forgot he wasn't #7 anymore". I don't care too much about what number a player puts usually. Unfortunately, Brant Sherwood came behind him while he was signing, so I had a second player I needed to stay after for. He also was wearing red. I also had a brief conversation with Brandon Rumble about him being back on the team. I didn't have anything I needed him on. The last player I got coming on was Jeremy Brodeur. This is the third time I've gotten him. He seems pretty nice, but almost like he's not really sure what he's supposed to say, so not a lot comes out of his mouth.

I then went over to the Reading Royals side. I noticed two players sitting in the box seats, the closer of which to me I recognized as Frank Hora. I went up to him and he signed his card, at which point, one of the equipment managers told me I couldn't be close to the locker room. I could tell this was going to be a difficult morning. (I later ID'd the second player as Andrew D'Agostini, but I wasn't able to get him until the end). A few minutes later Rob Darrar and Zach Todd came in from behind me and both signed. David Drake and another player came up behind while Darrar and Todd were signing. I was able to get Tyler Bird to sign his card and then Drake his as they were finishing up bagels.

At this point I returned back to the Admirals side to look for the two players in red, as they were beginning to wrap up the practice. Both Bowen and Sherwood came off at the same and they both signed their cards. Sherwood commented on the SUNY-Cortland picture. Before leaving I was also able to catch Admirals announcer Alex Reed, who signed one card and whom I also gave a card to. He liked it and showed the athletic trainer.

Coming back over to the Royals side again, I was able to get Frank DiChiara, who didn't look much like a hockey player, by identifying him from his jersey numbered hoodie. I was able to do the same with Brayden Low, Charlie Vasaturo, Adam Schmidt, Garret Cockerill, Joe Houk, Nick Luukko, and Kevin Goumas. I also got Tyler Brown to sign 3 cards a puck--who asked what numbers I wanted on the cards, as did Chris McCarthy. Steve Johnson signed his card as well. Although, he just seemed to hold the end of the pen in his hand and just sort of scribbled. Devin Buffalo signed and I talked to briefly. I had met him earlier in the season when he was with Greenville, and I thanked him for the goalie stick he gave me that trip. I was uncertain of the ID because he was #30 on the roster, but his hoodie said #41. After he signed, he came back to me and added his number because he said he forgot it. Assistant coach Mike Marcou commented on the picture saying that it was old and wasn't sure what number he was then, putting #2, and saying it was because that's the number he wore when he played for Reading.

Tyler Brown didn't skate so I called him over to get a picture with him, because why not? Coming off after practice I was able to get Andrew D'Agostini, who asked who else I had in my binder. Head coach Kirk MacDonald also signed a card. The last guys on the ice who I needed were Jack Riley and Alex Roos who both signed as soon as they came off. As I was leaving, one of the media guys for the team asked me if I was missing anyone, and pulled Tyson Fawcett, who didn't skate, out of the locker room to sign my card. I also got a picture with him. He commented on the picture, liking it, and I told him it was the same picture from the card I saw him with a couple weeks ago when he was playing for Jacksonville.

Jacob Graves did not travel due to injury.