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 Michael Caruso to an ECHL Standard Players Contract. In separate transactions also undertaken today, the Royals: (i) traded defenseman Colby Cohen to the Missouri Mavericks for future considerations; (ii) activated forward Justin Daniels from the ECHL Reserve List; and (iii) placed forward Matt Hatch on the ECHL Reserve List.
Last season, Caruso (6’2/196) (26), a seventh year pro from Mississauga, Ontario, recorded two assists and thirty-two penalty minutes in thirty-five games with the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL. A former fourth round pick of the Florida Panthers, Caruso sustained a broken wrist in late January that kept him out of action until mid-April. Caruso, who has logged 353 career AHL games (13g-36a=49pts, 302 pims), played two NHL games in January of 2013 for the Panthers. Prior to turning pro, Caruso played four seasons with the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League, where he picked up 73 points (15g-58a) and 338 penalty minutes in 248 games of major junior.
The Royals and Komets meet for the final time of the regular season tonight (Saturday, November 8 @ 7:05 pm). It is Superhero Night at Santander Arena when fans will be able to meet and greet Captain America, Ironman, and Thor!
For more information about the Royals, call 610-898-7825 or log onto www.royalshockey.com.