July 28, 2010

Reading, PA –The Reading Royals of the ECHL today announced that the organization has renewed its affiliation relationships with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League and the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League. Under the affiliation arrangements, the Royals will receive players designated for assignment to the ECHL within the professional development systems of Toronto and Boston during the upcoming season. This marks the third consecutive year that the Royals have worked with the Maple Leafs and Marlies, and 2010-11 will be the team’s second year with the Bruins.

“We’re extremely pleased to renew our affiliation relationships with Toronto and Boston,” said Gordon Kaye, the General Manager of the Royals. “Over the past two seasons, we have been very pleased as our interaction with the Maple Leafs and Marlies has expanded, and adding Boston as an affiliate last year provided our team with additional source of talent, while providing an excellent opportunity for young prospects to improve and advance their careers in Reading.”

Larry Courville, the Royals Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations, echoed those sentiments, “[t]here is no question but that a considerable factor in our team’s success last season was the active participation of the player development departments in Toronto and Boston. We look forward to continuing these efforts with our affiliates to accomplish our goals of developing young talent and winning games in Reading.”

The Royals host the team’s tenth anniversary home opener on Saturday, October 23, 2010 (7:05 pm), when the Elmira Jackals visit the Sovereign Center. Also, be sure to catch the Royals’ season opener live from Trenton, New Jersey, (@ Trenton Devils Saturday, October 16, 2010 @ 7:00 pm)—and all of the team’s away games this year—on Royals TV exclusively on BCTV courtesy of Boscov’s Travel and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Season tickets for the Royals’ 2010-11 season are currently available. To become a part of Royals hockey, call 610-898-PUCK or log onto www.royalshockey.com.