Royals Sign Jake Smith, F to SPC

Reading, PA - The Reading Royals, proud ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms, announced that forward Jake Smith has been signed to a Standard Player Contract (SPC).

Smith, 27, opens his sixth professional season with the Royals after skating in 23 games for Reading during the 2023-24 season where he registered 13 points (7g-6a), six penalty minutes and a -12 rating. The Pickering, Ontario native was acquired by the Royals from the Greenville Swamp Rabbits in exchange for future considerations on February 19th, 2024. With Greenville, Smith recorded 23 points (12g-11a), two penalty minutes and a +1 rating in 37 games to open the 2023-24 season. Smith has accumulated 197 points (101g-96a), 127 penalty minutes and a -65 rating in 246 professional career games across five seasons, which has included stops in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL), Germany3 and ECHL.

The 5'10", 170-pound, right-shot forward has played in the ECHL for each of the last three seasons where he's totaled 127 points (66g-61a), 67 penalty minutes and a -52 rating in 176 ECHL career games. Smith has played for Kansas City (5 gp), Iowa (57 gp), Norfolk (9 gp), Florida (45 gp), Tulsa (0 gp), Greenville (37 gp) and Reading (23 gp) throughout his ECHL career.

In his first season in the ECHL (2021-22), Smith totaled 50 points (25g-25a), 35 penalty minutes, a -23 rating and earned the ECHL Player of the Week for January 10-16 where he registered 11 points (7g-6a) in four games, as well as the ECHL Rookie of the Month for January where he recorded 20 points (10g-10a) in 13 games.

Smith began his professional career with the Evansville Thunderbolts in the SPHL out of Carleton University in the U Sports. At Carleton University, Smith totaled 35 points (17g-18a) and 30 penalty minutes in 27 games played. He was selected as the U Sports Rookie of the Year and an All Rookie Team selection in the 2018-19 season.

Additionally, Smith played one season in the Ontario Hockey League for the Windsor Spitfires in 2018-19 following four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).

Royals Upcoming:

The Royals open a road-trip against the Maine Mariners on Wednesday, November 13th at 7:00 PM at Cross Insurance Arena.

The road-trip continues with three-straight games against Adirondack on Friday, November 15th and Saturday, November 16th at 7:00 PM, as well as Sunday, November 17th at 3:00 PM at Cool Insuring Arena. The road stretch concludes on Wednesday, November 20th against the Norfolk Admirals at 7:05 PM at the Norfolk Scope Arena.

The Royals return home on Friday, November 22nd to open a two-game home stint with the opener against the Norfolk Admirals at 7:00 PM at Santander Arena before the home stand finale against the Maine Mariners on Saturday, November 23rd at 7:00 PM.

For tickets to the Royals Friday and Saturday games, and all home games this season, visit: Single Game Tickets

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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.