Royals Sign Defenseman Colby Cohen

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 that the team has signed defenseman Colby Cohen to an ECHL Standard Players Contract. Cohen was also placed on the ECHL Reserve List. In a separate transaction previously completed, forward Andrew Johnston was activated from ECHL Reserve and recalled by the Flyers and assigned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Cohen (6’3/219) (25), a fifth year pro from Villanova, Pennsylvania, played seven games last season—five with Assat Pori of the Finnish Elite League (0g-1a) and two with the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL. Cohen, a second round pick of the Colorado Avalanche in 2007, has played 175 total pro games in (6g-42a=48 pts), including three with the Avalanche in NHL. The majority of his career has been spent in the AHL, where he has played 165 games with the Lake Erie Monsters, Providence Bruins and Rampage. In 2012-13, Cohen picked up three assists in two games with the South Carolina Stingrays in his only stint in the ECHL.

Prior to turning pro, Cohen, who attended Radnor High School in the Philadelphia area, had an epic three-year career at Boston University. In his sophomore season, Cohen scored the overtime game winner to clinch the NCAA Men’s Hockey Division I National Championship for the Terriers. He was not only named to the All-Tournament team, but also was selected as the NCAA tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. In his third year at Boston University, Cohen led all defensemen on the team in scoring and was selected as an NCAA All-American. In 118 career collegiate games, Cohen recorded seventy-eight points (25g-53a) and 180 penalty minutes.

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.