Royals Acquire Forward Nikita Kashirsky

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals of the ECHL, affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, today announced that the team has acquired forward Nikita Kashirsky from the Fort Wayne Komets in return for future considerations. He is expected to join the Royals sometime early next week.

Kashirsky (6’0/196) (31), a seventh year pro from Moscow, Russia, has recorded twenty-one points (6g-15a) and sixteen penalty minutes in thirty-six total ECHL games this season with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits and the Komets. This is the second stint in Reading for Kashirsky, who was an integral member of the team’s 2013 Kelly Cup Championship squad. Originally acquired by Reading as a free agent on December 27, 2012, Kashirsky proceeded to record forty-four points (17g-27) (sixth on the team that year) in just 41 regular season games (1.07 points per game average) for Reading. During that year’s championship playoff run, Kashirsky played all twenty-two games for the Royals, piling up twenty-points (5g-15a) (third on the team). His fifteen assists tied for the league lead in that category. Kashirsky, who generated 60 shots on goal in the playoffs (second most on the team), played to a plus twelve (+12) in the post-season, which was fourth best in the league.

During the playoff season, Kashirsky scored two critical, late-game-tying goals for the Royals in: (i) the pivotal Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals against the Florida Everblades (with just 1:17 left in regulation); and (ii) Game Three of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cincinnati Cyclones (with just 1:37 left in regulation)—although the Royals ended up losing that game in overtime. He was also one of the five Royals to bag an overtime game winner in playoffs, scoring the OT GWG in Game One of the Kelly Cup Finals against the Stockton Thunder. His championship run with the Royals actually marked the second time that Kashirky claimed the Cup in the ECHL, as he was also a member of the 2009 Kelly Cup Champion South Carolina Stingrays.

In 375 total pro games, Kashirsky has registered 279 points (111g-168a) and 269 penalty minutes. Prior to turning pro, Kashirsky had a stellar four-year collegiate career with Norwich University with a selection as an RBK Hockey First Team All-American. During his time with Norwich University, Kashirsky registered 144 points (73g-7a) and 111 penalty minutes in 110 total collegiate games.

The Royals begin a two-game weekend set against the Wheeling Nailers tomorrow (Friday, February 5 @ 7:35 p.m.). This will be the fifth matchup of the season for the two clubs with each having taken a pair of games from one another. Friday’s game night broadcast on CBS Sports Radio 1240 am and 98.5 fm will kick off with the pre-game warm-up show presented by Highmark Blue Shield at 7:00 p.m. As with all Royals’ road games this season, Saturday’s game will be televised locally in Berks County, Pennsylvania, on BCTV courtesy of Boscov’s Travel and Apple Vacations. Streaming audio is available free of charge on the Royals’ website; and 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.