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Wednesday, August 27th

Royals Add Alyson Vecchia-Spooner, MS, LAT, ATC as First Female Athletic Trainer in Team History

Royals Add Alyson Vecchia-Spooner, MS, LAT, ATC as First Female Athletic Trainer in Team History

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals, proud ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms, announced that Alyson Vecchia-Spooner, MS, LAT, ATC will serve as the team’s athletic trainer. She becomes the first athletic trainer in the franchise’s 24-season history.

Vecchia-Spooner, a native of Danbury, Connecticut, will manage all matters related to the athletic training and medical treatment of the team’s players. Vecchia-Spooner’s services are provided through St. Luke’s University Health Network and will begin immediately.

​​“We’re excited to bring Alyson Vecchia-Spooner on as a member of the team’s hockey operations staff and the first female athletic trainer in our franchise’s history,” stated David Farrar, Team President. “It was imperative that we brought on an athletic trainer who holds the experience and skills necessary to properly manage the physical conditioning and medical treatment for our team. We have full confidence in Alyson’s ability to meet these measures and extend our sincere thanks to St. Luke’s University Health Network for being an important partner with our team.”

“I want to thank the entire Reading Royals organization, and the St. Luke’s Sports Medicine Relations department for giving me the opportunity to make my childhood dreams come true,” stated Vecchia-Spooner. “I also want to show my appreciation for the Springfield College Athletic Training program, and the Florida Everblades for believing in me, and giving me incredible experience that has paved the way for my job with the Royals. I couldn’t have done this without my family and friends unwavering support, never doubting my hopes to work in professional hockey. I hope I can show all the little girls here in Reading and beyond, that they too can be on the bench, and build a career in men’s professional sports, to never let anyone get in the way of it. I value my position and am going to try my hardest to get your favorite players back on the ice as soon as possible after injury, so we can hoist a Kelly Cup!”

A graduate of Springfield College with a Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Exercise Science, as well as a Master of Science Degree in Athletic Training, Vecchia-Spooner served as the athletic training student for the university’s football, soccer, volleyball teams. Additionally, Vecchia-Spooner gained a plethora of experience through numerous athletic training internships, including stints at Williston Northampton School in 2023, College of Holy Cross and UMass-Amherst’s football program in 2024, as well as the Florida Everblades in 2025 where she was efficient in injury prevention, immediate injury care, assisting team physicians, administration responsibilities, along with other skills.

Vecchia-Spooner will be one of the current four female athletic trainers in the ECHL this coming season, as she joins Kailey Warren of the Idaho Steelheads, Julia Phillips of the South Carolina Stingrays and Sarah Wieck of the Wichita Thunder.

Vecchia-Spooner also joins Lehigh Valley Phantoms’ head athletic trainer Kedryn Orrison-Pilgrim as two head athletic trainers within the Philadelphia Flyers organization.

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Royals Upcoming:

Preseason Schedule

The Reading Royals will host the Adirondack Thunder for their lone preseason game on Friday, October 10th at 7:00 pm at Santander Arena.

Admission to the Royals preseason home game on October 10th at Santander Arena is a suggested $5 donation to Slapshot Charities, the official charitable arm of the Reading Royals. For more, click HERE.

20th Annual Slapshot Charities Golf Tournament

Limited spots remain! The Slapshot Charities Golf Tournament, presented by Supreme Ceilings, on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, at the Moselem Springs Golf Club (684 Eagle Rd, Fleetwood, PA 19522). All proceeds will go to Slapshot Charities, the charitable arm of the Reading Royals. Learn more and register HERE.

Opening Night at Santander Arena

The Royals play their home opener, presented by Supportive Concepts For Families, at Santander Arena on Saturday, November 8 at 7:00 p.m. against Trois-Rivières. The home opener opens a two-game series with the Lions which concludes on Sunday, November 9 at 3:00 p.m.

Fans can secure their seat today with a Ticket Plan (10/18-Game Plan or Royals365 Membership).

VIEW ALL TICKET PLANS

 

Royals single-game ticket information will be announced later this summer. For more on the home opener, click HERE.

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2025-26 Season Memberships

Royals365 Season Memberships, six-game plans, ten-game plans, and group tickets are available for the 2025-26 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 entering their 24th season in the ECHL. They won their first Kelly Cup championship in 2013 and have clinched playoff berths in 13 of their latest 15 seasons. They are five-time division champions and were the 2021-22 Eastern Conference regular season champion. The Berks County Convention Center Authority (BCCCA), founded in 1996, owns the Royals and oversees operations at Santander Arena.