Royals Announce 2014-15 Opening Day Roster

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals of the ECHL, affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League, today announced the team’s 2014-15 Opening Day Roster. The Royals Opening Day roster includes twenty-four players (fourteen forwards, eight defensemen, and two goaltenders) with twenty-one active, two on the ECHL Reserve List and one on the 21-Day Injured Reserve.

Reading Royals 2014-15 Opening Day Roster

Active Forwards (11)

Ryan Cruthers

Justin Daniels

Matt Hatch

Brock Higgs

Adam Hughesman

Olivier Labelle

David Marshall

Pat Mullane

Cam Reid

Ian Watters

Sean Wiles

Active Defensemen (8)

Adam Comrie

Zach Davies

Brett Flemming

Dan Ford

Jordan Heywood

Maxim Lamarche

Mike Marcou

Bryant Molle

Active Goaltenders (2)

Connor Knapp

Martin Ouellette

Reserve List (2)

Andrew Johnston – Forward

Derek Mathers – Forward

21 Day-Injured Reserve (1)

Kevin Walrod – Forward (Twenty-One Day Injured Reserve)

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. Saturday’s game can be heard live on CBS Sports Radio WIOV-AM 1240 in Reading starting with the pre-game warm-up show at 7:05 pm—thirty minutes before the opening faceoff. Saturday’s game will also be televised locally in Berks County, Pennsylvania, on BCTV courtesy of Boscov’s Travel and Apple Vacations.

The home portion of the Royals’ schedule will kick off the following Saturday (October 25, 2014 @ 7:05 pm) when the Elmira Jackals travel to Santander Arena. That night, the Royals invite everyone in the Greater Reading Region and beyond to join us as we set sail on the Royals’ Fourteenth Year of Fun with the A Simply Smashing Royal Experience Block Party on Penn Street. The excitement will kick off directly in front of Santander Arena (700 Penn Street, Reading, PA) at 4:00 pm, three hours before the opening face-off for the home opener.

This year’s Simply Smashing Block Party will provide a heaping helping of a grand Royal Experience for everyone in the family, offering a number of participatory games (including a 30 foot inflatable and corn-hole competitions), a performance by a magician, and—this is where you can flex those biceps—a season-opening ‘Smash-a-Car’ courtesy of V&M Towing for your sledge-hammer swinging pleasure. Penn Street will be rocking with music courtesy of the WIOV van, and to keep your energy at maximum output for the long-haul, there will be great food available for purchase from Muddy’s Smokehouse BBQ and Chapman’s Deli Sandwiches, as well as other refreshments, including non-alcoholic beverages.

The Simply Smashing Royal Experience Block Party on Penn Street will feature appearances by all of your Royal favorites including Slapshot and Tiara. Fans will also have an opportunity to get a free smile from the brand new ice and promotional team, The Royal Ladies, who will be making their debut appearance for the 2014-15 season. The Royals also expect the renovation and expansion project of the team’s merchandise outlet, the Lion’s Den, to be completed by the home opener, so everyone can get properly geared up—and fired up—for the home opener against the Jackals.

Call 610-898-7825 for more information or log onto www.royalshockey.com.

End 14 10-16