Reading, PA – The Reading Royals of the ECHL, affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, today announced that the team has added two players to the team’s Training Camp Roster. Defenseman Nick Luukko has been loaned to Reading from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL. In a separate transaction, forward Jonathan Parker (San Jose Barracuda) has been returned to Reading after being released from AHL training camp. In another transaction previously completed, goaltender Louie George has been released from his tryout agreement with the team.
These transactions bring the Royals’ current training camp roster to twenty-four players (thirteen forwards, eight defensemen and three goaltenders).
Nick Luukko
Luukko (6’2/191) (23), who hails from West Chester, Pennsylvania, will be entering his first full season of pro. Last year, after the conclusion of his senior season at the University of Vermont, he capped off his year by playing six AHL games with Lehigh Valley without registering any points or penalty minutes. In July, Luukko, a sixth round pick of the Flyers in 2010, was signed to an AHL contract by Philadelphia. In his final year of collegiate play, Luukko racked up a career-best fourteen points (2g-12a) and fourteen penalty minutes in forty-one games with UV. Luukko, whose father is the executive chairman of Sunrise Sports & Entertainment—the parent company of the Florida Panthers of the NHL, racked up thirty-five points (8g-27a) and seventy-two penalty minutes in 131 college games with the Catamounts.
The Fifteenth Anniversary Season of Royals’ hockey kicks off with back-to-back games against the South Carolina Stingrays at North Charleston Coliseum on Saturday (October 17) and Sunday (October 18). Reading opens the home portion of the team’s schedule on Saturday, October 24, (7:00 pm) when the Elmira Jackals visit Santander Arena. The home opener will be preceded by a Block Party complete with a FREE concert by the Gin Blossoms. 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.