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 Mark Naclerio. He becomes the ninth player announced as signed by the Royals to a standard player’s contract for the 2017-18 season.
In addition to Naclerio, Reading has also announced the signings of Chase Golighty (d), Michael Huntebrinker (f), Nick Luukko (d), Ryan Penny (f), Emil Romig (f), Matt Salhany (f), Adam Schmidt (f) and Matt Wilkins (f).
Naclerio (5’11/183) (25), who hails from Milford, Connecticut, will be kicking off his second full season of professional hockey. Last year, he began the season with the Providence Bruins, with whom he signed an American Hockey League contract. In ten total games with the P-Bruins, Naclerio registered two points (1g-1a) and two penalty minutes. His goal for Providence last season proved to be the game winner in a 4-2 victory over the Binghamton Senators on November 11, 2016. In late December of 2016, Naclerio was assigned by the P-Bruins to the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL where he promptly ran off a five game assist streak (0g-6a) and registered ten points (2g-8a) in his first eight ECHL games. Except for a one-game recall in March, Naclerio remained with the Gladiators through the remainder of the year, and late in the season rang off a five game goal scoring streak (7g) (March 22 – April 3, 2017). In total, Naclerio registered thirty-three points (14g-19a) in forty games with Atlanta.
Naclerio actually kicked off his pro career when he joined Providence in March of 2016 for seven regular season games after the conclusion of his senior season at Brown University. In his third game with the P-Bruins that year, he scored his first pro goal. Prior to turning pro, Naclerio had an exceptional four year career at Brown, which included serving as the Bears’ team captain in both his junior and senior seasons. He kicked off his stint at Brown by earning a selection as the team’s Most Valuable Rookie and concluded it by claiming a spot on the All-Ivy League Second Team. In between, Naclerio led the team in goals (with nineteen) in his sophomore year; and led the team in assists (with fourteen) in his junior season. He played a total of 129 total college games in his time at Brown, which is second most in school history. In that span, Naclerio recorded a total of 103 points (36g-67a) and fifty-four penalty minutes.
Full Season Tickets and Mini-Plans for the Royals’ 2017-18 ECHL season are currently available. Call 610-898-7825 for more information or log onto www.royalshockey.com.