Forward Domenic Monardo Loaned to Reading

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 forward Domenic Monardo has been loaned to Reading from the Springfield Falcons of the AHL.

Monardo, (5’11/186) (26), a second year pro from Oakville, Ontario, was originally signed by Reading to an ECHL Standard Players Contract in July of 2014. He earned an AHL contract with the Falcons after attending training camp in Springfield. In twenty-six games with the Falcons, Monardo has recorded seven goals and two assists (nine points) and picked up twenty-one penalty minutes while playing to a plus-2 (+2).

Last season, Monardo, who earned Reading’s Rookie of the Year award, was the third leading scorer for the Royals with forty-six points (27g-19a), while playing to a plus-11 (+11), in seventy regular season games. He had one assist in five playoff games for Reading. Monardo’s twenty-seven regular season goals led the team and led all rookies in the ECHL. That was the most goals ever scored by a first year pro in Royals’ history, surpassing the twenty-six goals scored by Brad Rooney in the inaugural season for the team, 2001-02.

Ten of Monardo’s goals last season were scored while the Royals were playing with the man advantage, which also led the Royals and all rookies in the ECHL (and was tied third overall in the league). Five of his goals proved to be game winners, tying him with Sean Wiles for second most on the team (behind Josh Brittain, who had six GWGs) and was third most amongst first year pros in the ECHL. Monardo, who had nine multi-point (and three multi-goal) games over the course of the season, had two separate streaks during which he scored a goal in four straight games (November 1 – 10, 2013; and February 15 – 21, 2014). Those were the longest goal scoring streaks of the year last season for Reading. He also led all first year pros in the league (and the Royals) with 214 shots on goal—twenty-three shots more than the closest rookie to him.

Prior to turning pro, Monardo capped a stellar four year career at Lake Superior State University with a magical senior season. He led the Central Collegiate Hockey Association with twenty goals and, for the second consecutive season, led the Lakers in scoring with thirty one points (20g-11a) in thirty-nine games. At the conclusion of the season, Monardo, who served as team captain in his senior year at LSSU, was selected as the team’s Most Valuable Player and Most Valuable Forward—as well as the school’s outstanding male athlete.

Monardo’s four-year stint at LSSU was replete with awards and accomplishments, including being selected as the school’s Outstanding Freshman in his first year of college. In his sophomore year, he was selected as the team’s Most Improved Player. After his junior year, during which he tied for second in the CCHA (and sixth nationally) with five game winning goals, he was selected as the Lakers’ Most Valuable Forward. Monardo who received the 2012 CCHA Terry Flanagan Memorial Courageous Athlete Award, concluded his career at LSSU with 101 points (49g-52a) in 153 total college games to become only the third player in school history to record 100 points in his time at LSSU.

NEXT UP FOR THE ROYALS

Reading Royals v Florida Everblades

@ Santander Arena – Reading, PA

Friday, February 6, 2015 (7:30 pm)

NEXT UP: The Royals kick off a three-games-in-three-days series against the top team in the East Division, the Florida Everblades, starting tomorrow (Friday, February 6 @ 7:30 pm) at Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania. Friday is Ladies Night with a special appearance from Soap Opera star Tyler Christopher. It is also a Free Shirt Friday when the first 1500 fans fifteen years of age and older will get a t-shirt honoring Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer courtesy of V&M Towing. There will also be a charity auction for an opportunity to have dinner with your favorite Royal after the game. Friday’s game day broadcast can be heard live in the Reading area on CBS SportsRadio (1240 am and 98.5 fm) beginning with the pre-game warm-up show presented by Highmark Blue Shield at 7:00 pm. Streaming internet audio is also available free of charge and can be accessed by following the ‘headset’ icon on the Royals’ website. Streaming video is available on a pay-per-view basis through ECHL.TV.

For more information about the Royals, call 610-898-7825 or log onto www.royalshockey.com.

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