Camp to Feature Two Pre-Season Games & Hockey Skills Challenge

Preparation for Thirteenth Season of Royals’ Hockey and Defense of Kelly Cup Championship Kicks Off on Saturday, October 5 @ 10:00 am at Sovereign Center

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 the team’s Pre-Season Training Camp Schedule. The on-ice practice sessions will begin on Saturday, October 5, 2013, at 10:00 am at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. The thirteenth Training Camp in Reading Royals’ hockey history will continue with daily skating sessions through Thursday, October 17, and will feature two Pre-Season Games and the second annual Making Moments & Miracles Hockey Skills Challenge. All on-ice practice sessions during Royals’ Pre-Season Training Camp will be held at the Sovereign Center and are open to the public.

The Royals will get a look at both of this year’s Atlantic Division opponents in the two games scheduled in the pre-season. In Pre-Season Game One, the Royals will face the Wheeling Nailers at the Sovereign Center on Friday, October 11 (7:05 pm). As with the last several seasons, the Royals’ have partnered with the Reading Eagle to invite everyone to attend this game for FREE! Fans can gain admission to the Royals’ home pre-season game by simply presenting the coupon that will be published in the Reading Eagle in the days leading up to the pre-season game. Pre-Season Game Two is set for Saturday, October 12, when the Royals will travel to First Arena in Elmira, New York, where they will take on the Elmira Jackals (7:05 pm).

On Sunday, October 13 (12:00 noon – 5:00 pm), the Royals will host the second annual Making Moments & Miracles Hockey Skills Challenge presented by I-105 WIOV and Sports Radio Berks 1240 am and 98.5 fm. The event will feature the Royals’ players and standouts from local youth hockey organizations displaying their skills in an afternoon of fun competition. As with last season, the MM&M Hockey Skills Challenge will transform the Sovereign Center into a carnival-like atmosphere, while serving to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

During the MM&M Hockey Skills Challenge, the Sovereign Center concourse will resemble a carnival midway with a little bit of something for everyone, including a magician, face-painting, arts and crafts booths, balloon art, and performances by area singers and musicians and various games for young and old. The organization will also hold open auditions to sing the National Anthem at an upcoming Royals’ game. There will be a silent auction for a wide-ranging treasure trove of memorabilia, in addition to raffles for valuable gift certificates from Royals’ sponsors. The competitive element of the MM&M Hockey Skills Challenge, which will begin at 3:00 pm, will include all of the traditional fan favorites in all-star skills competitions including the fastest skater, most accurate shot, the hardest shot, stick-handling relay races and penalty shot showdowns between the ‘kids’ and the ‘pros’.

Tickets to the MM&M Hockey Skills Challenge are $15 and can be purchased through the Royals by calling 610-898-7825 or by visiting www.royalshockeyevents.com/royals-skills. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales, as well as funds raised from the various games, auctions and raffles will go directly to the Children’s Miracle Network at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

The Royals 2013-14 Pre-Season Training Camp Schedule is set out below. Please note that all times and dates are subject to change.

Reading Royals 2013-14 Pre-Season Training Camp ScheduleSaturday, October 5, 2013: 10:00 am – 12:00 noon (Sovereign Center)Sunday, October 6, 2013: 10:00 am – 12:00 noon (Sovereign Center)Monday, October 7, 2013: 10:00 am – 12:00 noon (Sovereign Center)Tuesday, October 8, 2013: 10:00 am – 12:00 noon (Sovereign Center)Wednesday, October 9, 2013: 10:00 am – 12:00 noon (Sovereign Center)Thursday, October 10, 2013: 10:00 am – 12:00 noon (Sovereign Center)Friday, October 11, 2013: (7:05 pm) Pre-Season Game One – Royals v Wheeling Nailers (Sovereign Center)Saturday, October 12, 2013: (7:05 pm) Pre-Season Game Two – Royals @ Elmira Jackals (First Arena)Sunday, October 13, 2013: (12:00 noon – 5:00 pm) MM&M Hockey Skills Challenge (Sovereign Center)Monday, October 14, 2013: 10:00 am – 12:00 noon (Sovereign Center)Tuesday, October 15, 2013: 10:00 am – 12:00 noon (Sovereign Center)Wednesday, October 16, 2013: 10:00 am – 12:00 noon (Sovereign Center)Thursday, October 17, 2013: 10 am – 12:00 noon (Sovereign Center)

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.