Talented D Houk heads to Reading from Greenville for future considerations

Fifth PA native added to Royals roster

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals have acquired defenseman Joe Houk from Greenville for future considerations, Head Coach Kirk MacDonald announced Friday. A 28-year-old from Richboro, PA, Houk is entering his fifth professional season. Last campaign, Houk scored nine goals and 29 points in 43 games, earning a spot in the 2018 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic. He has not played this season.A former UMass-Lowell standout, Houk stands 6-foot and weighs 205 pounds. In 2016-17, he scored a career-high 16 goals (4th among ECHL defensemen) and 47 points in 69 games for Greenville. The first two seasons of his career, Houk split time with Elmira, Toledo and Manchester before arriving in Greenville for the end of the 2015-16 season.  The Royals have five Pennsylvania natives on the roster. Steven Swavely (Reading), Nick Luukko (West Chester), Adam Schmidt (Warrington) and Chris McCarthy (Collegeville) were also born in the Keystone State.For his ECHL career, Houk has scored 101 points (30g) in 193 games and added 142 PIM. He will wear #13.Reading hosts Kalamazoo Friday at 7:00 p.m.

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About the RoyalsThe Royals have been owned by serial entrepreneur Jack Gulati since 2014 and are entering their 18th 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 nine straight seasons and are four-time division champions.Listen to all Royals broadcasts at Mixlr.com/ReadingRoyals or by downloading the Mixlr App from the App Store or Google Play.