Mason Primeau, F & Xavier Bernard, D Loaned to Reading by Lehigh Valley

Reading, PA - The Reading Royals, proud ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms, announced that forward Mason Primeau and defenseman Xavier Bernard have been loaned to Reading by Lehigh Valley.

Primeau, 23, has registered four points (3g-1a), 22 penalty minutes and a -1 rating in seven games with the Royals to fifth professional season. Under a one-year American Hockey League contract with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the Toronto, Ontario native has registered 44 points (18g-26a), 151 penalty minutes and a -27 rating across 159 professional career games.

Since being recalled from his second loan to Reading on December 21st, Primeau made his Phantoms debut that dame day against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins where he recorded two penalty minutes and a -1 rating.

The 6’5”, 203-pound, left-shot forward has played 133 of his 134 AHL career games with the Henderson Silver Knights across each of the last four seasons. Primeau has played 25 games in the ECHL between the Fort Wayne Komets, Savannah Ghost Pirates and Reading where he’s recorded 16 points (8g-8a), 49 penalty minutes and a +2 rating.

A fifth round, 141st overall, selection of Vegas Golden Knights in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Primeau amassed 65 points (31g-34a) in 174 OHL regular season career games between the Guelph Storm (2017-19) and the North Bay Battalion (2018-19). In the OHL postseason, Primeau recorded five points (1g-4a) in 11 games.

Additionally, Mason Primeau is the son of former NHL veteran Wayne Primeau who played 774 career NHL games with Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, San Jose, Boston, Calgary. He is also the nephew of former Flyers’ captain Keith Primeau who played six seasons for Philadelphia from 1999-2006.

Bernard, 24, recorded an assist, six penalty minutes and a -1 rating in 10 games with Lehigh Valley this season after he registered two penalty minutes and a +2 rating in two games (Oct. 26th & 27th vs. Wheeling) with the Royals to open his fifth professional season. Under a one-year American Hockey League contract with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the Mercier, Quebec native has amassed 40 points (7g-33a), 154 penalty minutes and a +24 rating in 171 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 five points (1g-4a), 34 penalty minutes and a -18 rating in 62 AHL career games between the Belleville Senators (2021-23), Bakersfield Condors (2023-24) and Phantoms (2024-25).

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.

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Royals Upcoming:

The Royals conclude the 2024 calendar year with a New Year’s Eve puck drop against the Wheeling Nailers at WesBanco Arena on Tuesday, December 31st at 6:10 PM. Reading opens the 2025 calendar year at Worcester for a two-game road series against the Railers on Friday, January 3rd at 7:05 PM and Saturday, January 4th at 6:05 PM.

The Royals return home to host the Trois-Rivières Lions for a three-game series on Friday, January 10th and Saturday, January 11th at 7 PM, as well as Sunday, January 12th at 3 PM. The home games feature the 'Fans Pick the Music Night,' Star Wars Night, and Puck N' Pancakes promotional games, respectively.

For tickets to 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.