Xavier Bernard, D Recalled by Lehigh Valley from Loan to Reading

Reading, PA - The Reading Royals, proud ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms, announced that defenseman Xavier Bernard has been recalled by Lehigh Valley from his loan to Reading.

Bernard, 24, is on an American Hockey League contract with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms for his fourth professional season. The Mercier, Quebec native played in both games against the Wheeling Nailers for Reading this weekend where he registered two penalty minutes and a +2 rating. Bernard has amassed 39 points (7g-32a), 148 penalty minutes and a +25 rating in 161 professional career games between the AHL and ECHL.

Across 109 ECHL career games, the 6'4", 209-pound, left-shot blue-liner has registered 35 points (6g-29a), 120 penalty minutes and a +42 rating in stints with the Atlanta Gladiators (2021-22) Allen Americans (2022-23), Fort Wayne Komets (2023-24) and Reading (2024-25). Bernard recorded four points (1g-3a), 28 penalty minutes and a -17 rating in 52 AHL career games between the Belleville Senators (2021-23) and Bakersfield Condors (2023-24).

Bernard was selected in the fourth round, #110 overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Prior to beginning his professional career in 2021-22 with Atlanta in the ECHL, Bernard played five seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) where he totaled 103 points (23g-80a), 265 penalty minutes and a +80 rating in 275 QMJHL career games. He also represented Canada at the World Under-17 Hockey Championships in 2017.

Royals Upcoming:

The Royals open a four-game road trip in Trois-Rivères on Wednesday, October 30th at 7:00 PM at the Colisée Vidéotron. The road trip continues in Trois-Rivières on Friday at 7:00 PM before moving to Maine for back-to-back face-offs against the Mariners on Saturday at 6:00 PM and Sunday at 3:00 PM at Cross Insurance Arena.

The Royals return home on Wednesday, November 6th to host the Norfolk Admirals at 7:00 PM at Santander Arena for a Wild Wednesday promotional game. Enjoy $6.10 Orange Zone tickets and $2 beer at select locations around the concourse (must be 21+). College students can also score on a Buy One, Get One ticket deal with a valid .edu email at the box office of Santander Arena on Wild Wednesday game days.

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2024-25 Season Memberships

Royals365 Season Memberships, six-game plans, ten-game plans, and group tickets are available for the 2024-25 season now by visiting the Royals’ box office at Santander Arena or by calling 610-898-7825.

About the Royals

The Reading Royals, proud affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms, are in their 23rd season in the ECHL. They won their first Kelly Cup championship in 2013 and have clinched playoff berths in 12 of the previous 14 seasons. They are five-time division champions and were the 2021-22 Eastern Conference champion. The Berks County Convention Center Authority (BCCCA), founded in 1996, owns the Royals and oversees operations at Santander Arena.