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 defenseman Saverio “Sam” Posa. He becomes the twelfth player announced as signed by the Royals to a standard player’s contract for the 2017-18 season.
In addition to Posa, Reading has also announced the signings of Chase Golighty (d), Michael Huntebrinker (f), Nick Luukko (d), Mark Naclerio (f), Ryan Penny (f), Emil Romig (f), Matt Salhany (f), Adam Schmidt (f), Scott Tanski (f), Derek Whitmore (f), and Matt Wilkins (f).
Posa (5’10 / 181) (25), who hails from Grand Blanc, Michigan, will be entering his fourth season of professional play. Last season, he recorded eight points (1g-7a) and sixteen penalty minutes in sixty-three regular season games with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL, where he played under current Royals’ Assistant Coach Patrick Wellar. This marks the third stint in the ECHL for Posa, who played the 2015-16 season in Italy, where he was second amongst defensemen for Cortina SG in scoring with seventeen points (3g-14a) in thirty-eight games. Posa kicked off his pro career in 2013-14 with the Missouri Mavericks, who then played in the Central Hockey League. Mid-way through that season, however, Posa elected to leave the Mavericks for the University of Windsor, where he played parts of two seasons before returning to professional play mid-way into the 2014-15 season when he joined the Indy Fuel of the ECHL, where he recorded seven points (1g-6a) and twelve penalty minutes in forty-two games.
Prior to turning pro, Posa played four seasons of major junior in the Ontario Hockey League. He spent the vast majority of that time with the Windsor Spitfires, where he was a member of the spectacular 2010 team that not only won the OHL playoff championship but also went on to capture the Memorial Cup. Posa’s numbers progressively improved during his time with the Spitfires, and in his final season of major junior (2012-13), he was chosen to serve as the team’s captain; however, that year he was moved in trade deadline deal to the Guelph Storm. In 232 total regular season games in the OHL, Posa racked up fifty-one points (6g-45a) and 178 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.