Royals Agree to Terms with Defenseman Damon Kipp

Former University of New Hampshire Captain Played to Plus-8 in 52 Games with South Carolina Last Year

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals of the ECHL, affiliate of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League and Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, today announced that the organization has agreed to terms with defenseman Damon Kipp. The Royals now have sixteen players announced as signed for the 2013-14 season. In addition to Kipp, the others are: Mike Banwell (d), Matt Campanale (d), Louie Caporusso (f), Julien Cayer (f), Ethan Cox (f), David Marshall (f), Bryant Molle (d), Ian O’Connor (f), Ryan Santana (f), Bobby Shea (d), Yannick Tifu (f), Brad Walch (d), Ian Watters (f), Sean Wiles (f), and Marc Zanette (f).

Last year in his first full season as a pro, Kipp (6’2/209) (25), who hails from Salmon Arm, British Columbia, scored five goals, assisted on seven others (twelve points) and was assessed with twenty-two penalty minutes in fifty-two regular season games with the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL. Kipp, whose first goal as a pro came against the Royals in a game won by South Carolina on November 30, 2012, played to a collective plus-eight (+8) in the regular season, which was third best amongst the team’s defensemen. In four playoff games, Kipp recorded one assist for the Stingrays, who were eliminated in the first round by the Gwinnett Gladiators.

Kipp began his pro career in March of 2011, when he joined South Carolina and picked up a helper in four regular season games—and another assist in seven playoff games—for the Stingrays after the completion of his senior season at the University of New Hampshire. While at UNH, Kipp, a two-time member of the Hockey East All-Academic Team, twice led the club in blocked shots. During his senior season, Kipp was selected as a co-captain for the Wildcats, who earned a berth in the NCAA tournament in three of Kipp’s four years of eligibility. In 140 total collegiate games, Kipp recorded forty-five points (11g-34a) and 124 penalty minutes.

The Royals kick off the defense of the team’s 2013 Kelly Cup Championship with a two-game weekend set at Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania, against the South Carolina Stingrays. On Saturday, October 19, 2013, the Royals open the 2013-14 season against the Stingrays at 7:05 pm, followed by a 4:05 pm start against South Carolina in Game Two of the season on Sunday, October 20. Season Tickets for the 2013-14 Reading Royals are currently available. Call 610-898-7825 or visit www.royalshockey.com for more information.