F Matt Willows and D Nolan Zajac named to 2017-18 All-ECHL Second Team

Princeton, NJ – Reading Royals forward Matt Willows and defenseman Nolan Zajac have been named to the 2017-18 All-ECHL Second Team, the ECHL announced Thursday. Willows is fifth in the league with 69 points and tops Reading with 30 goals. Zajac is tied for second among league blue liners with 16 goals and seventh with 43 points. Willows and Zajac join former Royals defenseman Adam Comrie as the only Reading players honored to an All-ECHL Second Team. Comrie twice qualified for the Second Team (2012-13, 2015-16).

Royals named to All-ECHL Teams

All-ECHL Second Team (4 times): D Adam Comrie (2012-13, 2015-16), Nolan Zajac (2017-18), Matt Willows (2017-18)

All-ECHL Rookie Team (3 times): T.J. Kemp (2005-06), David Vallorani (2012-13), Michal Cajkovsky (2013-14).

The winners were determined in a vote of ECHL coaches, broadcasters, media relations directors and media, who were asked to select a goaltender, two defensemen and three forwards.

Reading wraps up the regular season with a back-to-back against the Norfolk Admirals Apr. 6-7. Join the Royals for the regular season finale and FANdemonium on Sat., Apr. 7 at 7:00 p.m. The Royals will give away prizes at every whistle.

Playoff tickets are now on sale by calling 610-898-7825.

2017-18 All-ECHL First Team

G – Parker Milner, South Carolina Stingrays (36 gp, 26-7-3, 1.88 GAA, .929 save pct.)D – David Makowski, Allen Americans (56 gp, 10g, 43a, 53 pts., +23)D – Matt Register, Colorado Eagles (69 gp, 16g, 47a, 63 pts., +16)F – Michael Joly, Colorado Eagles (50 gp, 39g, 23a, 62 pts., +25)F – Jordan LaVallee-Smotherman, Manchester Monarchs (67 gp, 34g, 37a, 71 pts., +21)F – Shawn Szydlowski, Fort Wayne Komets (62 gp, 30g, 47a, 77 pts., +40)

The ECHL will announce the Community Service Award and Sportsmanship Award winners on Friday.

Parker Milner of the South Carolina Stingrays leads the ECHL with a 1.88 goals-against average, ranks third with a .929 save percentage, is tied for third with 26 wins and is tied for fifth with three shutouts.

David Makowski of the Allen Americans earns All-ECHL First Team honors for the second consecutive season. He is second among blueliners with 43 assists and 53 points while his 19 power-play assists are tied for second among defensemen and his 22 power-play points rank second.

Matt Register of the Colorado Eagles is on the All-ECHL First Team for the fourth time in his career after also receiving the honor in 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2016-17. Register leads all ECHL defensemen with 63 points, is tied for second with 16 goals and is tied for fourth with 21 power-play points.

Michael Joly of the Colorado Eagles leads the ECHL with 39 goals and 11 game-winning goals, is tied for fourth with 11 power-play goals and is tied for 11th with 62 points despite playing in just 50 games.

Jordan LaVallee-Smotherman of the Manchester Monarchs ranks second in the league with 34 goals and is tied for third with 71 points while ranking seventh with 247 shots on goal.

Shawn Szydlowski of the Fort Wayne Komets earns All-ECHL honors for the third time in his career after previously being named to the First Team in 2014-15 and the Second Team in 2015-16. He leads the league with 77 points and a +40 rating, is tied for fourth with six game-winning goals and is tied for eighth with 30 goals.

2017-18 All-ECHL Second Team

G – Pat Nagle, Toledo Walleye (48 gp, 36-5-4, 2.15 GAA, .926 save pct.)D – Eric Knodel, Cincinnati Cyclones (55 gp, 13g, 35a, 48 pts., +1)D – Nolan Zajac, Reading Royals (69 gp, 16g, 27a, 43 pts., -11)F – Justin Danforth, Cincinnati Cyclones (44 gp, 28g, 31a, 59 pts., +26)F – Jesse Schultz, Cincinnati Cyclones (69 gp, 18g, 55a, 73 pts., +11)F – Matt Willows, Reading Royals (69 gp, 30g, 39a, 69 pts., -4)

Pat Nagle of the Toledo Walleye leads the ECHL with 36 wins, ranks second with 2,787 minutes played, third with 1,250 saves, fourth with a 2.15 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage and is tied for fifth with three shutouts. His 36 wins are tied for the third-most in a single-season in ECHL history, and are just two off the all-time mark of 38.

Eric Knodel of the Cincinnati Cyclones is tied for third among league defensemen with 48 points, is tied for fifth with 35 assists and is tied for eighth with 13 goals. Knodel’s 22 power-play assists lead all blueliners while his seven power-play goals are tied for second.

Nolan Zajac of the Reading Royals earns a spot on the All-ECHL Second Team after being named to the All-ECHL Rookie Team in 2016-17. He is tied for second among defensemen with 16 goals and is tied for seventh with 43 points.

Justin Danforth of the Cincinnati Cyclones earns recognition for the second consecutive day after being named to the All-ECHL Rookie Team yesterday. Danforth is second among rookies with 59 points and tied for second with 28 goals despite being recalled to Rochester of the American Hockey League since Feb. 13.

Jesse Schultz of the Cincinnati Cyclones leads the league with 55 assists, 28 power-play assists, and 31 power-play points while his 73 points are second overall.

Matt Willows of the Reading Royals is tied for fifth in the ECHL with 69 points and is tied for eighth with 30 goals while ranking second with 297 shots on goal.

About the ECHL

Began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 27 teams in 21 states and one Canadian province for its 30th season in 2017-18. There have been 641 players who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League after starting their careers in the ECHL, including 18 who have made their NHL debuts in the 2017-18 season. The ECHL has affiliations with 26 of the 31 NHL teams in 2017-18, marking the 21st consecutive season that the league had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. Further information on the ECHL is available on its website at ECHL.com.

FANdemonium, prizes at every whistle and last home game of regular season, Sat., Apr. 7 vs. NOR at 7:00 p.m.We are giving away Royals prizes at EVERY WHISTLE! Plus, the first 2,500 fans receive a Royals rally towel, courtesy of Tower Health. Tickets are available here.

Season ticket holders: stick around after the game for a chance to win a game-used Royals jersey with “Jerseys off our Back” promotion. You must be present to win.

2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs Tickets On SaleLock down your Kelly Cup Playoff tickets by calling 610-898-7825. A Royals team member will provide you with curbside service outside the Lion’s Den Team Store at the corner of 8th and Penn Street; just call 610-898-7825 and we will deliver your tickets without leaving your car.

The Royals are offering five playoff vouchers for $85. Use the five vouchers at any home playoff games!

Miniplans available for 2018-19!Call 610-898-7825 to learn more about 9, 12 and 18 game mini-plans for the 2018-19 season!

2018-19 season tickets now availableTop full-season benefits include: exclusive Reading Hockey Club per seat gift, discounted rate off regular ticket prices, ticket exchange, preseason meet and greet, exclusive season ticket holder events, advanced entry and a chance to win and the Royals Owner’s Suite for a game. Call 610-898-7825 and visit to join the Royals family or renew season tickets for the 2018-19 season. Visit royalshockey.com/tickets/season-tickets to learn more.

About the RoyalsThe Royals have been owned by serial entrepreneur Jack Gulati since 2014 and are in their 17th ECHL season. Proudly affiliated with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers and AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Reading plays in the Santander Arena, located in downtown Reading, PA at 700 Penn Street. The Royals won the Kelly Cup in 2013, have made the playoffs in eight straight seasons and are four-time division champions.

Broadcast CoverageAll Royals game can be heard on Rumba 1340 AM and the iHeartRadio app by searching “Rumba 1340”. The pregame show starts 15 minutes before puck drop. Watch Royals games on ECHL.tv. Reading away games are shown locally on BCTV.