Royals Extend Best Wishes to Ryan Cruthers and Family for his Time, Talent, and Service with the Organization and Community

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals of the ECHL take this opportunity to extend the organization’s best wishes to Ryan Cruthers and his family and thank him for his time, talent and service with the organization and the Berks County community. Ryan has informed the team that he has accepted the position of head coach and assistant general manager with the Charlotte Rush of the United States Premier Hockey League in Charlotte, North Carolina. Ryan and his wife, Julie, and their two young boys are expected to move to Charlotte in late July. The Royals also wish Ryan a happy birthday, as he turns thirty-one tomorrow, July 4.

“There is no question that Ryan has been one of the most important people associated with the Royals’ organization in the fifteen year history of the team,” said Royals’ President Drew Bell. “The numbers he has racked up on the ice during his time with the team speak for themselves, but with Ryan it has been so much more than that. He has been a leader within our organization and the Berks County community in every possible meaning of that term. We’re confident that he is going to continue that role in his new position in Charlotte, and we wish Ryan and his family the best as they take on this new adventure. I will personally miss his friendship and the leadership he brought to our locker room.”

“I want to thank the Reading Royals organization for everything they have done for me over my career,” said Cruthers. “I want to personally thank Jack Gulati and his family, Larry Courville, Drew Bell, Gordon Kaye, Mark Thompson, Andy Scott, Kirk MacDonald, Oktay Armagan, Brian Grogesky and Pat Noecker. Thank you to the front office staff and ice crew. I would also like to thank the Booster Club for everything you have done. A big thank you to Dr. Greenlee and Dr. Schmoyer as well as the entire staff at Penns Common Dental Group for always taking great care of me. Thank you to Dr. Martin and Dr. Marr and everyone at Common Wealth Orthopedics. Thank you to all of my teammates throughout the years as well as my good friend Derrick Redcay.  Without all of you I am sure my career would not have been as long and as pleasurable. Most importantly I would like to thank the fans of Reading.  It has been an honor to play in front of such passionate fans for such a long time, Reading will always be home to me and my family.  The last two seasons have been the most enjoyable of my career and I am happy and honored to retire as a Reading Royal.  Thanks again to everyone who has made playing in Reading a true honor.”

The Royals originally acquired the rights to Cruthers (along with defenseman Kyle Peto) from the Mississippi Sea Wolves in completion of the future considerations element of the trade that sent forward Peder Skinner to the Sea Wolves on March 12, 2009, in one of the late season deals completed that year by the Royals’ then-new coach, Larry Courville. Starting in the 2009-10 season, Cruthers, who served as a captain or alternate captain through the vast majority of his career with the Royals, racked up an all-time leading 273 points (86g-187a) in 278 games over five seasons with the team. In four of those seasons—including this past year—Cruthers, who was a three-time selection as the team’s Offensive Player of the Year, racked up fifty or more points.

Cruthers, who has played more games than any other player in the purple, silver and black (and sometimes orange), is the all-time team leader in assists (187), power play points (31g-80a=111pts), and shots on goal (772). He is second all-time (to Olivier Labelle) in career goals scored (86) and game winning goals (15). He is fifth all-time in penalty minutes with 299 career PIMs with the Royals. He has taken more shootout attempts in team history than any other player, going 9 for 23 (39.1%) in the skills competition historically.

Cruthers is also the all-time scoring leader in playoffs for the Royals with thirty-nine points (14g-25a) in thirty-six post-season games. His fourteen playoff goals tie him for the team’s all-time lead with Olivier Labelle and Yannick Tifu. He is second in post-season games played only to Alex Berry, who played thirty-seven career playoff games with the team.

Prior to turning pro, Cruthers, who originally hailed from Farmingdale, New York, put together a stellar collegiate career at the United States Military Academy and Robert Morris University. In 465 regular season games over seven seasons of pro hockey, Cruthers recorded 396 career points (143g-253a) and 542 penalty minutes.

NOTES FROM RYAN CRUTHERS PLAYING CAREER:

• Member Championship Team, New York Apple Core, Eastern Junior Hockey League (2002-03)
• Member Championship Team, St. Mary’s High School (Manhasset, New York), New York State Amateur Hockey Association (2002-03)
• Led Team, Points (18), United States Military Academy (Army) (2003-04)
• Selected, Heinmiller Award, Outstanding Freshman, USMA (Army) (2003-04); Led Team, Assists (10), USMA (Army) (2003-04)
• Led Team, Goals (17) and Points (37), Robert Morris University (2006-07)
• Selected Team Captain, RMU (2007-08)
• Led Team and Conference (College Hockey America), Goals (22), Assists (27), Points (49), RMU (2007-08)
• Third In Nation, Points Per Game (1.44), RMU (2007-08);
• Selected Team Most Valuable Player and Best Offensive Player, RMU (2007-08)
• Selected, Player of the Year, College Hockey America (2007-08)
• Selected, Conference All-First Team, CHA (2007-08)
• Selected, Third Team All-America, Inside College Hockey (2007-08)
• Nominated, Hobey Baker Award (2007-08); Nominated, Lowes Senior Class Award (2007-08)
• Represented Mississippi Sea Wolves at 2009 ECHL All-Star Game (1g-2a=3pts), Reading, PA (January 21, 2009)
• Led Team, Goals (29), Assists (37), & Points (66), Mississippi Sea Wolves, ECHL (2008-09)
• Selected, Sher-Wood Hockey ECHL Player of the Week, Reading Royals, December 22 – 29, 2009
• Selected, Team Offensive Player of the Year, Fan’s Choice Awards, Reading Royals, (2009-10)
• Led Team, Regular Season Scoring (22g-49a=71pts), Reading Royals (2009-10)
• Led League, Playoff Scoring (8g-16a=24pts), Reading Royals (2009-10)
• Selected, Team Captain, Reading Royals (October 15, 2010)
• Second on Team, Assists (35), Reading Royals (2010-11)
• Tied for Team Lead, Multi-Point Games (17), Reading Royals (2010-11)
• Tied for Team Lead, Game Winning Goals (5), Reading Royals (2010-11)
• Selected Co-Offensive Player of the Year, Fan’s Choice Awards, Reading Royals (2010-11)
• Tied for Team Lead, Playoff Goals (5), Assists (3) & Points (8), Reading Royals (2011)
• Led Team: Goals Scored (23) and Second on Team: Points (45), Orlando Solar Bears, ECHL (2012-13)
• Led Team, Assists (40) and Points (56) (t-18th in League), Power Play Points (4g-17a=21pts) (t-3rd in League), Multi-Point Performances (15), Longest Point Streak (eleven games) (6g-12a=18pts) (12/28/13 – 01/25/14) (4th Longest in League), Longest Assist Streak (nine games) (12a) (01/28/13 – 01/18/14) (tied longest in League), Reading Royals, ECHL (2013-14)
• Selected, Offensive Player of the Year, Fans’ Choice Awards (Third Time), Reading Royals, ECHL (2013-14)
• All-Time Career Leader, Points (86g-187a=273pts), Assists (187), Power Play Points (30g-81a=111pts), Shots (772), Games Played (278), Reading Royals, ECHL (2009-15)
• All-Time Career Post-Season Leader: Scoring (14g-25a=39pts in thirty-six games), Reading Royals, ECHL (2010-15)

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