Gianfranco Cassaro, 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 Gianfranco Cassaro has been recalled by Lehigh Valley from his loan to Reading.

Cassaro, 25, has registered a team-high 23 points (6g-17a), along with eight penalty minutes and a -11 rating in 39 games to begin his professional career with Reading this season. A native of Nobleton, Ontario, Cassaro also led all Reading blue-liners in goals (6) and shots (85), while ranking second among Royals' defenseman in assists (17) and power play assists (8). He also scored his first professional career goal on November 1st against the Trois-Rivières Lions.

The 5'11", 187-pound, left-shot defenseman signed an American Hockey League contract with Lehigh Valley on August 20th, 2024 out of R.I.T. (Rochester Institute of Technology). In 2023-24, Cassaro registered 38 points (18g-20a) in 40 games to lead all NCAA defensemen in goals while finishing fourth in points. He totaled 35 career goals at R.I.T. which set a program record for most goals by a defenseman in the D1-era.

His five-year NCAA career also included two years at UMass-Amherst and totaled 81 points (36g-45a) across 157 games. Additionally, Cassaro played two seasons for the Youngstown Phantoms in the United Stated Hockey league (USHL) where he accumulated 43 points (11g-32a) in 86 USHL career games.

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Royals Upcoming:

The Royals open a three-game road trip against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Friday, January 24th at 7:05 PM and Saturday, January 25th at 7:05 PM at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

The road trip concludes against the South Carolina Stingrays on Sunday, January 26th at 3:05 PM at North Charleston Coliseum. Jacksonville on Monday, January 20th at 12:00 PM at Santander Arena.

The Royals return home for a three-game home stand beginning with a two-game series against the Adirondack Thunder on Saturday, February 1st at 7:00 PM and Sunday, February 2nd at 3:00 PM. The home stand concludes against the Norfolk Admirals on Tuesday, February 4th at 10:30 AM.

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.