Royals to Host Historic Army-Navy Hockey Showdown

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals of the ECHL, affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL and Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL, the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, and the American Collegiate Hockey Association today jointly announced that that the ACHA Division 2 Army and Navy hockey teams will face-off in a historic match-up at Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania, at 1:30 pm on Saturday, November 22, 2014.

The Army-Navy hockey rivalry began in 2013 as Navy's ACHA Division 1 team faced off against Army for the first time ever, winning by a score of 6-4. Last season, Navy widened its margin of victory beating Army by a score of 9-2.  This season, Army and Navy will continue the rivalry at the ACHA Division 2 level.

The modified Army-Navy hockey showdown will precede the Royals’ game later that same night against the Indy Fuel. The first puck will drop on that ECHL matchup at 7:05 pm. With the purchase of a ticket to the Royals’ game that night, patrons will gain admission into both games and all events for the day. Please note that doors at Santander Arena will open for the Army-Navy game at 12:30 pm.

The Army-Navy ACHA Division 2 hockey game will be part of a greater Veterans Weekend series of events for the Royals. On Saturday, November 22, things will actually kick off with a morning hockey skills clinic in which school-age players from southeast Pennsylvania will receive on-ice instruction from the Army and Navy players. The participants in the youth skills clinic will also get an opportunity to meet and speak with Royals Head Coach Larry Courville, as well as the Royals’ team captains. More information on participating in the youth hockey skills clinic can be obtained by calling the Royals’ office at 610-898-7825.

Everyone participating in the youth skills clinic on Saturday and the Army-Navy game that same day will be invited to attend the Royals’ game against the Fuel that night, during which the organization will honor our nation’s military veterans, as well as recognize and thank participants in this historic game.

The Royals open the 2014-15 season on Saturday, October 18, at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, West Virginia, where the team will face the Wheeling Nailers. The home portion of the schedule will kick off the following Saturday (October 25, 2014 @ 7:05 pm) when the Elmira Jackals travel to Santander Arena. Royals’ season tickets are currently available. Call 610-898-7825 for more information or log onto www.royalshockey.com.

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