Parade Caps Off Record Setting Championship Season

Royals Celebrate Championship Season with City of Reading in Parade and Celebration at Sovereign Center

Reading, PA – The 2013 ECHL Kelly Cup Champion Reading Royals, affiliate of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League and the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, today capped off a record-setting ECHL Kelly Cup Championship season with a victory parade and celebration at the Sovereign Center in Reading. The parade participants launched from the McDonald’s/VF Outlet parking lot in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, and traveled down Penn Street, which was lined with thousands of cheering fans, to the Sovereign Center. The parade participants included the Royals players on a Reading Fire Department ladder truck, a Victory Parade Courtesy Car from Steve Moyer Subaru, one of the Zamboni’s from the Sovereign Center, Slapshot and Tiara driving their family four wheelers, a V&M Towing flat-bed tow truck with the traditional crushed car (representing the opposition in playoffs), fire and police escort vehicles—and, of course, the Kelly Cup. Over 3500 fans participated in the Championship Celebration inside the Sovereign Center. Things kicked off with staff introductions by General Manager Mark Wallace. Local dignitaries including State Representative Tom Caltigrone, State Senator Judy Schwank, County Commissioner Christian Leinbach, and Reading Mayor Vaughn Spencer made opening statements. After a video highlight presentation, Dave ‘Frenchy’ Bauman introduced the players to the wild cheers of the fans, which was followed by the national anthems for Canada and the United States. The players then each took a turn at the podium to express their thoughts and thanks for the historic season. The players signed autographs and took photographs with fans for over an hour after that. The Royals want to thank everyone in the City of Reading for being a part of the team’s historic Kelly Cup Championship season. We’re already looking forward to seeing you next year!