Royals Sign Defenseman James Sanford

Defenseman Patrick Wellar Recalled from Reading by Hershey

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals of the ECHL, affiliate of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League and the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, today announced that the team has signed defenseman James Sanford to an ECHL contract. In a separate transaction, goaltender Brandon Anderson has been reassigned by Washington from Hershey to Reading. In another transaction, the Bears recalled defenseman Patrick Wellar from the Royals. Sanford (5’10/205) (28).a ninth year pro from Moncton, New Brunswick, leads defensemen on the Dayton Demonz of the Federal Hockey League with thirty-two points (11g-21a) in twenty-nine games. He also leads the team in plus-minus, playing to a plus-37 (+37) through this stage of the season. Sanford has amassed 231 total points (60g-171a) in 369 career pro games in six leagues. He has played ninety-nine AHL career games and 128 in the ECHL. In 2005-06, he led defenseman on the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL with twenty-eight points (10g-18a) in fifty-four games. Two seasons later, he led d-men on the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL in regular season and playoff scoring, as the Grizzlies advanced all the way to the National Conference Finals before being knocked off by the Las Vegas Wranglers. Prior to turning pro, Sanford played 272 games in the Quebec Major Junior League, three times leading the defensemen on his team in scoring, as he racked up a career 187 points (55g-132a) in major junior. Anderson was recalled on Monday by the Capitals and reassigned to the Bears. He has appeared in eight games for the Royals, compiling a record of 5-3-0-0 with a 3.22 goals against average and a .878 save percentage. This is the second recall to Hershey for Wellar, a ninth year pro who was born in Carrot River Saskatchewan. He has recorded fifteen points (2g-13a) and forty-five penalty minutes in thirty-six games with Reading. In four games with Hershey, Wellar has been assessed with twenty-one penalty minutes. The Royals return to action tonight (Saturday, January 26 @ 7:05 pm) when the reigning Western Conference Champion Las Vegas Wranglers will make their first of two consecutive appearances at the Sovereign Center. On Saturday, some lucky fan (21 & older) is going to win a trip to Las Vegas courtesy of Boscov’s Travel. The Game Day Broadcast kicks off at 6:35 pm on CBS Sports Radio (1240 am and 98.5 fm). Royals multi-game flex plans for the 2012-13 season presented by Steve Moyer Subaru are available at 610-898-7825 and through the Royals website: www.royalshockey.com. Don't forget to "Like" us on Facebook at Reading Royals and "Follow" us on Twitter @RRoyalshockey for the latest team information!