October 31, 2009

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals of the ECHL, affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League and the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, today announced that the team has signed forward Ryan Cruthers to an ECHL Contract. In a separate transaction, the Royals loaned forward Gavin Morgan to the Hershey Bears of the AHL.

Cruthers (6’0/186) (25), who hails from Farmingdale, New York, began this season with the Texas Brahmas of the Central Hockey League, where he played four games before being released. Last April, the Royals acquired the ECHL rights to Cruthers (and defenseman Kyle Peto) from the Mississippi Sea Wolves in completion of the future considerations element of the trade that sent forward Peder Skinner to the Sea Wolves on March 12, 2009. Last season, Cruthers led the Sea Wolves in goals (29), assists (37), and points (66) in sixty-five ECHL games. Cruthers, who is a second year pro, represented Mississippi at the 2009 ECHL All-Star Game in Reading, where he scored a goal and picked up a pair of assists to help the American Conference defeat the National Conference, 11-5. Cruthers, who earned a pair of call-ups to the AHL in 2008-09, racked up sixteen multi-point performances in last year, which included his first pro hattrick on December 16, 2008, against the Florida Everblades. Prior to turning pro, Cruthers played two seasons of college hockey for the U.S. Military Academy, where he won the Outstanding Freshman Award, before transferring to Robert Morris University. While at RMU, Cruthers had two spectacular seasons, which culminated with being selected as College Hockey America’s Player of the Year in 2008.
It is expected that Cruthers will be in the Royals’ lineup this afternoon (1:05 pm) when the Royals return to action at the Sovereign Center against the Johnstown Chiefs. Fans are encouraged to dress in costume on Saturday for the Halloween Day celebration. Saturday’s broadcast time is 12:30 pm on the Royals Radio Network presented by Transmissions by Arbogast.  To become a part of Royals hockey, call 610-898-PUCK or log onto www.royalshockey.com.