Royals Kick Off Mites-on-Ice 'Royal Cup' Challenge On Home Opener Weekend

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals of the ECHL, affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL and Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL, today announced that the organization will host the inaugural Mites-on-Ice ‘Royal Cup’ Tournament for area youth teams throughout the 2014-15 ECHL season.

The young teams participating in the tournament will play a head-to-head ‘game’ in the first five minutes during the first intermission of Royals’ home games at Santander Arena in Reading this season. Teams will earn three points for a win, two points for a tie, and one point for a loss. Each team participating in the tournament will be invited to play in as many as four games over the course of the season, and, at the conclusion of the season, the two top teams in the tournament will play for the Royal Cup.

As a reward for participating in the Mites-on-Ice Royal Cup Tournament, each player will receive a free ticket to the Royals’ game on the night that their team is scheduled to play. Parents, family members and friends can help each organization raise funds by purchasing tickets to the Royals’ game through a special ticket link established for each participating team. The Royals will donate five dollars ($5.00) for each ticket purchased through the special links back to each respective team as a fundraiser.

The Mites-on-Ice Royals Cup Tournament will kick off this weekend with the Palmyra Black Knights facing the Regency Panthers in the first intermission of the Royals home opener on Saturday (October 25 @ 7:05 pm). On Sunday (October 26 @ 5:05 pm), the tournament will pit the Valley Forge Colonials Mites ‘A’ Team against the Valley Forge Colonials Mites ‘B’ Team.

There is still time—and there are still available slots—for mites and elementary-age teams to join the Royal Cup Tournament. To find out more about the Royals youth tournaments, clinics and fundraiser programs, please contact Gregg Lewis (484) 400-0342 (glewis@royalshockey.com). The Reading Royals support all youth hockey teams at all ages and skill levels. Be sure to take advantage of the many programs we offer and enjoy our games as well!

NOTES ON ROYALS’ HOME OPENER (Saturday, October 25, 2014)

The home portion of the Royals’ schedule will kick off on 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 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, as well as an appearance by Flyer legend Brian Propp. 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.

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