Royals Agree to Terms with Forward Matt Wilkins

**NOTE: Image Courtesy of Andy Camp (Adirondack Thunder)

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals of the ECHL, affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, today announced that the team has agreed to terms with forward Matt Wilkins. The Royals have announced ten players as signed to ECHL Standard Players Contracts for the 2016-17 season. In addition to Wilkins, Reading has announced the signing of forwards Justin Crandall, Olivier Labelle, Mike Pelech, Mike Pereira, Joe Rehkamp and Ian Watters and defensemen Nick Luukko, Derik Johnson and Mike Marcou.

Last year, Wilkins (5’11/193) (25), who was born in Kimberley, British Columbia, registered twenty-one points (7g-14a) and fifty-six penalty minutes in thirty-five games during his senior season at Union College, which placed him fourth on the team in scoring. After the completion of his senior season at Union, during which he served as the team’s captain, Wilkins joined the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL for two games without registering any points or penalty minutes. Wilkins, who was selected as the team’s Rookie of the Year in his freshman season with the Dutchman, was an integral member of the 2014 Union College team that won the ECAC Tournament championship and proceeded to capture the NCAA Division I National Championship. Wilkins, who racked up a career high twenty-eight points (13g-15a) in his junior season, was named as the team’s Most Improved Player that year. In 146 career collegiate games, Wilkins registered eighty-five points (26g-56a) and 208 penalty minutes with the Dutchmen.

Season Tickets for the 2016-17 Reading Royals ECHL season are currently available. Call 610-898-7825 for more information or log onto www.royalshockey.com.