Reading, PA - The Reading Royals, proud ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms, announced that defenseman Zach Berzolla has signed with the club for the 2026-27 season.

Berzolla, 28, is entering his sixth-full professional following his second career Kelly Cup championship season with the Florida Everblades where he registered 22 points (2g-20a) and a +15 rating in 43 regular season games. The Howell, New Jersey native skated in all 20 games during the Everblades 2026 Kelly Cup title run, adding six points (2g-4a) to his 16 points (4g-12a) accrued over 66 ECHL playoff career games between Florida (2021, 2024, 2026), Jacksonville (2022) and Cincinnati (2023).

Berzolla has reached the Kelly Cup Playoffs in five of his six professional seasons and won his first of two Kelly Cup titles with Florida alongside current Royals Head Coach and General Manager Anthony Peters, who was an assistant coach for the Everblades in 2023-24 and 2024-25.

"Excited to sign in Reading this year," stated Berzolla. "Being able to play close to my family was really important to me at this point in my playing career. Coach Peters also played a pivotal role in my decision. I know I’m going to a place that is built on integrity and hard work, and I’m excited to build off the foundation he has already set and add to it. Can’t wait for the puck to drop in October. Excited to be a Royal!"

"Zach is an elite player, we are extremely grateful he has chosen to be a Royal,” stated Peters. "He has won 2 Kelly Cup championships, I was fortunate to win one of them alongside him. I've seen first hand the impact he has on a game and what he is capable of. We are excited to have him on board.”

Over 280 professional career games between the American Hockey League (AHL) and ECHL, the 6'2", 201-pound, right-shot blue-liner has amassed 112 points (24g-88a) with three points (3g) in the AHL over stops in Hartford (2021-22, 2023-24), Rochester (2022-23) and Springfield (2025-26), plus 109 points (21g-88a) tallied in the ECHL. 

Additionally, Berzolla has attended multiple NHL Training Camps including the New York Rangers camps in 2021 and 2023, as well as the Buffalo Sabres camp in 2022 and Vancouver Canucks in 2024. He also skated at the New Jersey Devils Development Camp in 2016.

Prior to his professional career opening with Florida in 2020-21, Berzolla played four seasons at Colorado College where he logged 23 points (4g-19a) and 182 penalty minutes across 133 NCAA career games.

Berzolla was also teammates with current Lehigh Valley Phantoms goaltender Keith Petruzzelli at Muskeogon (USHL) in 2016-17.

Royals 2026-27 roster (11):

Forward (4): Jordan Frasca, Connor McMenamin, Jeremy Michel, Austin Saint

Defensemen (7): Zach Berzolla, Miles Gendron, Artem Kulakov, Austin Mourar, Jack Page, Luke Reid, Carter Schade

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Home Opener:

The Royals player their home opener at Santander Arena on Saturday, October 24 at 7:00 p.m. against Kalamazoo. The home opener opens a two-game series with the Wings which concludes on Sunday, October 25 at 3:00 p.m. The Royals hoist a record of 9-11-1-3 in home openers with their last home opener victory coming against the Norfolk Admirals, 6-4, on October 23 of the 2021-22 season.

Fans can secure their seat for Opening Night today with a Royals ticket plan. The Royals offer plans ranging from as low as 4 games all the way up to our full season 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.

What's Upcoming:

CALLING ALL FUTURE ROYALS! Registrations are now OPEN for the RRYHA In-House Leagues, presented by Visions Federal Credit Union! Open to all 4-16 year olds, learn more about each league and register your skater 👉 https://bit.ly/YTHLeagues

𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣 𝙏𝙤 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙮, presented by Visions Federal Credit Union! Be the first to skate the new introduced Lions Cubs LTP Program (ages 4-9) or attend the Intermediate Skills Clinic (ages 10-16) (REGISTER)

𝙎𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙨 𝘾𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙨 (REGISTER: bit.ly/4pSVJhc)

Support the Reading Royals official charitable arm, 𝙎𝙡𝙖𝙥𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙩 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨, which believes that Every Child Deserves to Play. Learn more about Slapshot Charities: bit.ly/4j1qaQa

See upcoming Learn to Skate sessions at the Body Zone Sports & Wellness Complex (LEARN MORE: https://bodyzonesports.com/learn-to-skate/)

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Follow the Royals on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and subscribe to the 𝘙𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘥𝘰𝘮 email list to know when promotions and deals at all homes games this season goes live!

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2026-27 Season Memberships

Royals365 Season Memberships, select game plans, and group tickets are available for the 2026-27 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 25th season in the ECHL. They won their first Kelly Cup championship in 2013 and have clinched playoff berths in 14 of their last 16 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.