Reading Royals encyclopedia topics

Franchise History

The current Reading Royals franchise was formed in 1991 as the expansion franchise Columbus Chill. David Paitson was team's first President/General Manager and former NHL player Terry Ruskowski, the head coach, started the team with a goal of introducing new audiences to the sport of ice hockey and building a strong fan base. The two were successful with the help of an extensive marketing plan. The Chill's 83-game sellout streak beginning in early January 1992 still stands as a minor league hockey record today. It would take the team two seasons to reach the playoffs, doing so in 1994 under coach Ruskowski. The Chill would go on to win two conference championships and make the playoffs for five of the eight seasons.

The Chill were a key part of the growth of hockey in Columbus, Ohio and paved the way for the NHL expansion Columbus Blue Jackets. The 1998-99 season would be the franchise's final season as the team was voluntarily suspended to be moved to Reading, Pennsylvania to make room for the Jackets. The move created big changes for the franchise, In 2001 the franchise returned to active status in the ECHL with a new name and colors, the Reading Royals became the ECHL affiliate of the L.A. Kings/Manchester Monarchs. The team's first entrance into the Kelly Cup Playoffs came in 2004 while in their third season, when they won the North Division Championship under head coach Derek Clancey. Then during the next season, they became the North Division Regular Season Champions, only to lose to the eventual Kelly Cup Champion, Trenton Titans in the North Division Finals.

Under coach Karl Taylor, the Royals had generally mediocre performance in regular season and post-season play. For three seasons straight, the Royals were unable to play past the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

2007-2008 was another story. Skaters Dany Roussin and Brock Hooton enjoyed some fame in Reading due to their "goal-a-game" nature for much of the season, while tough-guys Steven Later and Malcolm MacMillian were among league leaders in penalty minutes. After a strong finish to a warlike regular season, Taylor led the team to the North Division Finals where their tour ended in a heated 7-game battle with the unstoppable Cincinnati Cyclones. The Cyclones continued on to sweep past other teams to win the cup, but the Royals were the only team to take them to seven games in the playoffs.

Some better-known players to come out the Reading Royals organization include L.A. Kings goaltender Barry Brust, goaltender Yutaka Fukufuji, Phoenix Coyotes winger Ryan Flinn, and Anaheim Ducks winger George Parros, who was the first Royal to appear in the Stanley Cup finals. Veteran Larry "The Legend" Courville and former head coach Derek Clancey have also contributed to the Royals organization.

The End of an Era; A New Dawn in Reading

The 2007-2008 season would be Karl Taylor's last with the Royals organization. In late June 2008, General Manager Gordon Kaye announced that Taylor will leave Reading to serve as coach for the new Ontario Reign of the ECHL for 08-09. The Royals were left without a coach, and had not yet announced any prospects.

In a press conference on July 9, 2008, the Royals organization announced that they are now the primary ECHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the secondary ECHL affiliate for the Los Angeles Kings for the 2008-2009 season. The Royals continue to wear their majestic colors of purple, black, and silver.

The Sovereign Center and the city of Reading, Pennsylvania are also the hosts of the 2009 All-Star Game and Skills Challenge for the ECHL. During this exciting upcoming season, as an affiliate of a team with great history, the Royals plan to highlight the rich tradition of hockey in Reading - as well as Toronto, an Original Six team.

Gordon Kaye (GM) has a great feeling about what is to come. "We believe that this relationship [with Toronto] will provide us with the best opportunity to give our fans what they want and deserve - an ECHL championship."

On July 24, 2008, Reading announced that Jason Nobili will be head coach for the 2008-2009 season.

Current Roster

Goaltenders
#	align=left	Player	Catches	Acquired	Place of Birth	Contract Status	Protected List
1	Terry Denike	R	2007	Burlington, Ontario	Royals Contract
29	Daniel Taylor	L	2007	Plymouth, England	Kings Contract
30	John Murray	L	2008	Lancaster, Pennsylvania	Royals Contract	X

Defensemen
#	align=left	Player	Shoots	Acquired	Place of Birth	Contract Status	Protected List
2	Kevin Schaeffer	R	2007	South Huntington, New York	Providence Bruins (AHL) Contract/Royals Contract	X
3	Rob LaLonde	L	2006	Williamsville, New York	Royals Contract	X
7	Steven Later	R	2008	Winnipeg, Manitoba	Royals Contract	X
17	Mike Salekin	L	2007	Castlegar, British Columbia	Royals Contract	X
24	Dave Pszenyczny	L	2008	Sterling Heights, Michigan	Royals Contract	X
25	Brian Boulay	R	2006	Auburn, Massachusetts	Royals Contract	X
41	P.J. Atherton	R	2007	Edina, Minnesota	Monarchs Contract
--	Dinos Stamoulis	L	2008	Carle Place, New York	Royals Contract

Forwards
#	align=left	Player	Shoots	Acquired	Place of Birth	Contract Status	Protected List
10	Vladimir Dravecky	R	2008	Kosice, Czechoslovakia	Kings Contract
11	Joe Zappala	L	2006	Medford, Massachusetts	Royals Contract	X
15	Dany Roussin	L	2005	Quebec City, Quebec	Kings Contract
16	Brock Hooton	R	2007	Nanaimo, British Columbia	Royals Contract
20	Bracken Kearns	R	2007	Vancouver, British Columbia	Norfolk Admirals (AHL)/Royals Contract	X
21	Matt Herneisen	R	2007	Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania	Royals Contract	X
23	Marc Cavosie	R	2007	Albany, New York	Royals Contract	X
27	Charlie Kronschnabel	L	2006	Mendota Heights, Minnesota	Springfield Falcons (AHL) Contract/Royals Contract	X

3-Day Injured Reserve
#		align=left	Player	Shoots	Acquired	Place of Birth	Contract Status

7-Day Injured Reserve
#		align=left	Player	Shoots	Acquired	Place of Birth	Contract Status

Recalled/Loaned List
#		align=left	Player	Shoots	Acquired	Place of Birth	Contract Status	Recalled/Loan Team

Suspended List
#		align=left	Player	Shoots	Acquired	Place of Birth	Contract Status	Protected List
17		Chad Allan	L	2007	Davidson, Saskatchewan	Royals Contract	X

Players On Protected List But Not On Royals Roster
#	align=left	Player	Shoots	Position	Acquired	Place of Birth	Contract Status	Protected List
12	Chris Blight	R	F	2007	Cambridge, Ontario	Nordsjælland Cobras (Denmark) Contract	X
--	Jason Becker	R	D	2006	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan	ETC Crimmitschau (Germany) Contract	X
20	Shawn Collymore	R	F	2006	LaSalle, Quebec	Stavanger Oilers (Norway) Contract	X
5	Shawn Germain	R	F	2006	St. Paul, Alberta	Edinburgh Capitals (Great Britain) Contract	X
19	Kevin Saurette	R	F	2006	Winnipeg, Manitoba	ESV Kaufbeuren (Germany) Contract	X
--	Jason Weitzel	R	F	2006	Balgonie, Saskatchewan	Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (CHL) Contract	X