Royals Sign Forward Justin Crandall and Defenseman Curtis Leonard

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals of the ECHL, affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL, today announced that the team has agreed to terms with forward Justin Crandall and defenseman Curtis Leonard. The Royals have announced five players as signed to ECHL Standard Player Contracts for the 2015-16 season. In addition to Crandall and Leonard, the team has also previously announced the signing of forwards Cam Reid and Ian Watters and defenseman Jordan Heywood.

Video content related to the performance of Crandall and Leonard with the Royals last season can be accessed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG7X5CtlNsk.

Last season, Crandall (5’11/189) (23), who hails from Lakeville, Minnesota, joined the Royals when he signed an Amateur Tryout Agreement in late March after the completion of his senior season at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. In four games with the Royals, Crandall registered three points (1g-2a), which included scoring his first goal as a pro—a power play goal in a 5-3 win over the Florida Everblades on April 3, 2015. In his first game pro game ever, Crandall racked up a pair of assists for the Royals on April 2 against the Everblades.

In his senior season at UMD, Crandall was second on the team with thirteen goals (13g-10a=23pts) in thirty-eight games with the Bulldogs. Crandall, who served as an alternate captain last year with UMD, was tied for the team lead in goals in his junior season with fourteen (14g-13a=27pts). That year, he also led the team in shooting percentage (18.4%), power play goals (6) and plus-minus (+8). In 145 career collegiate games, Crandall recorded seventy-nine points (40g-39a) and 120 penalty minutes with the Bulldogs.

Leonard (6’3/202) (22), who hails from Napanee, Ontario, was signed by the Royals to an Amateur Tryout Agreement on March 18, 2015, after the completion of his senior season at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. One day later, he was loaned by the Royals to the Rochester Americans of the AHL, where he recorded his first pro point when he picked up an assist in his first game with the Americans. Leonard was returned to the Royals on April 3 and proceeded to record a pair of penalty minutes in five games with Reading. In his senior season with RPI, Leonard led defensemen on the team with ten points (2g-8a) in thirty-nine games with the Engineers. Leonard, who was a two-time selection to the ECAC All-Academic Team while at RPI, served as a team captain in his senior season. In 151 career games with the Engineers, Leonard registered forty-three points (9g-34a) and 84 penalty minutes.

Season Tickets for the 2015-16 Reading Royals ECHL season are currently available. Call 610-898-7825 for more information or log onto www.royalshockey.com.