Royals Sign Defenseman Chris Saracino

Two-Time Captain at R.I.T. Led Tiger Defensemen—and Was Second on Team—In Scoring

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 Chris Saracino to an ECHL contract. In another transaction announced today, the Royals placed defenseman Joe Sova on the team’s Reserve List. In separate transactions previously completed, the Royals (i) released defenseman Nathan Martine from his Amateur Tryout Agreement; and (ii) signed Martine to an ECHL contract. Saracino (5’10/197), who hails from St. Louis, Missouri, just finished his senior season at Rochester Institute of Technology, where he led defenseman (and was second overall on the team) with thirty-two points (11g-21a) in 38 games for the Tigers, who were eliminated from the Atlantic Hockey Association Tournament last weekend. A two-time captain for R.I.T., Saracino was selected as the school’s top defenseman in his sophomore season when he was among the nation’s leaders in plus-minus, playing to a plus-28 (+28) in thirty seven games. Saracino, who was part of the Tiger squad that advanced all the way to the NCAA Frozen Four in 2009-10, registered seventy-three points (20g-53a) and 100 penalty minutes in 129 collegiate games. The Royals kick off a four game road trip starting tomorrow (Wednesday, March 20 @ 7:30 pm) at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where Reading will face off against the Fort Wayne Komets. The Game Day Broadcast on Wednesday starts at 7:00 pm on CBS Sports Radio (1240 am and 98.5 fm) with the pre-game warm-up show brought to you by Steve Moyer Subaru. As with all Royals’ road games this season, Wednesday’s game will be televised locally in Berks County, Pennsylvania, courtesy of Boscov’s Travel and Apple Vacations. 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.