Reading, PA – The Reading Royals of the ECHL, affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League and Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League, today announced that the team has signed four players to ECHL Tryout Agreements: (i) Justin Daniels (forward); (ii) Myckauly Melanson (forward); (iii) Ryan Patsch (forward); and (iv) Jarrett Rush (defenseman).
Daniels (6’2/204) (25), who hails from Suffern, New York, played thirty-nine games for the Elmira Jackals in 2012-13, racking up ten points (4g-6a) and thirteen penalty minutes. A third round pick of the San Jose Sharks in 2008, Daniels played three seasons at Northeastern University, where he recorded thirty-eight points (15g-23a) in ninety-three total collegiate games.
Melanson (5’10/195) (21), a native Montreal, Quebec, is entering his first year of pro. Last season, he played junior hockey in the BCHL with the Langley Rivermen and in the EHL with the Philadelphia Revolution.
Patsch (6’0/195) (23), who hails from Philadelphia, led the Danbury Whalers of the Federal Hockey League with thirty-one goals, which placed him fourth overall in the league in that category. Patsch, who was second in the league with 246 shots on goals, recorded a total of sixty-one points (31g-30a) and played to a plus-19 (+19) in fifty-six games for the Whalers.
Rush (6’4/217), a native of Pennington New Jersey, split last season between the Peoria Rivermen of the Southern Professional Hockey League and the Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL. While in Peoria, Rush, who served as the captain of the Rivermen, registered nine points (1g-8a) and eighty penalty minutes in forty-nine SPHL games. Rush picked up a pair of penalty minutes in six games with the K-Wings.
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.