Former Royals F Ryan Cruthers named Head Coach of USHL's Chicago Steel

Team’s all-time leading scorer was a Royals assistant last season        

Reading, PA – Former Reading Royals forward and assistant coach Ryan Cruthers was named Interim Head Coach and Assistant General Manager of the United States Hockey League’s Chicago Steel Tuesday. Cruthers played for the Royals from 2009-12 and 2013-15 and is the team’s all-time leading scorer with 273 points (86 goals) in 278 games. He served as a Royals player-assistant coach in 2014-15 and was Reading’s interim assistant coach in Apr. 2017.

The 33-year-old was the Head Coach of the Charlotte Rush (USPHL Premier) the last three seasons, leading the team to a 2017 league championship.

In Chicago, Cruthers joins former Royals forward Ben Gordon, who is the team’s Associate Head Coach. Gordon is fourth on Reading’s points list (144). Chicago won the Clark Cup in 2017.

Cruthers was Reading’s Captain from 2010-12 and an alternate captain in 2014-15. He started his coaching career in Reading while playing for the Royals, serving as Alvernia University’s club hockey coach.

The United States Hockey League (USHL) is the nation’s only Tier 1 junior hockey league. Jimmy DeVito and Michael Huntebrinker played for the Chicago Steel during their junior careers. Reading has nine former USHL players on its roster – Huntebrinker, DeVito, Nolan Zajac (Cedar Rapids/Omaha), Adam Schmidt (Sioux City), Matias Cleland (Waterloo, Omaha), Derek Whitmore (Lincoln/Waterloo), Mark Naclerio (Waterloo), Nick Luukko (Dubuque) and Brian Morgan (Indiana/Muskegon).

The Royals are at Worcester Wed., Jan. 3 at 7:05 p.m. and start a five-game home stand this Fri., Jan. 5 at 7:00 p.m. against Brampton on Pro Wrestling Night with WWE’s Jerry “The King” Lawler.

Meet Jerry “The King” Lawler on Wrestling Night Jan. 5Meet wrestling legend Jerry “The King” Lawler at Santander Arena and watch the Royals battle the Brampton Beast on Fri., Jan. 5 at 7:00 p.m.

Mental Health Awareness Night and Kelly Cup Puck Giveaway Jan. 6Sat., Jan 6 vs. WOR at 7 p.m.: Kelly Cup Tribute Championship puck to the first 2,000 fans courtesy of Berks-Schuylkill Oil Heat Association. Mental Health Night is presented by the Berks County Office Of Mental Health And Developmental Disabilities.

Dollar Dogs and Postgame skate Jan. 7Sun., Jan 7 vs. WOR at 4 p.m.: Dollar dog day presented by Safe Berks, Berks Packing and Coca-Cola, and a postgame skate presented by Body Zone.

Tickets to three of our biggest games for $30Get an autographed Royals puck and come out to three of our biggest games for just $30.- Sat., Jan. 20 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Slapshot bobblehead giveaway, THON Night, Star Wars jerseys)- Fri., Feb. 17 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Pink in the Rink, knit scarf giveaway)- Sat., Mar. 17 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Yannick Tifu number retired, Meet WWE Million Dollar Man)- Sat., Mar. 24 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Worcester (Kelly Cup Tribute puck giveaway, Autism Awareness jerseys)- Sat., Apr. 7 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Norfolk (FANdemonium, fan appreciation, fan’s choice giveaway)- Call 610-898-PUCK and tickets are available here.

About the RoyalsThe Royals have been owned by serial entrepreneur Jack Gulati since 2014 and are in their 17th ECHL season. Proudly affiliated with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers and AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Reading plays in the Santander Arena, located in downtown Reading, PA at 700 Penn Street. The Royals won the Kelly Cup in 2013, have made the playoffs in eight straight seasons and are four-time division champions.

Reading Royals Mobile AppHead to the App Store and Google Play to download the new Reading Royals app on your smartphone! Stay up-to-date with team news, receive notifications and purchase tickets for your next experience at Santander Arena.

Broadcast CoverageAll Royals game can be heard on Rumba 1340 AM and the iHeartRadio app by searching “Rumba 1340”. The pregame show starts 15 minutes before puck drop. Watch Royals games on ECHL.tv. Reading away games are shown locally on BCTV.