Reading Royals

The Reading Royals are an American professional ice hockey team. They began playing in 2001. The team plays in the ECHL. They play their home games in Reading, Pennsylvania at Santander Arena. They are the ECHL affiliate for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). They are also the affiliates for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League (AHL).

The team originally played in Columbus, Ohio as the Columbus Chill from 1991 to 1999. The Chill would stop playing in their last two seasons. After the Columbus Blue Jackets arrived in Columbus, the Chill decided to relocate to Reading, Pennsylvania to become the Reading Royals.[1]

On October 12, 2001, the team would play their first game as the Reading Royals. They would be defeated by the Trenton Titans 3–1.[2]

During the 2012–13 season, the Royals would lead the North Division. They finished with 46 wins, 19 losses, and 99 points and would make it all the way to the Kelly Cup finals. They would end up winning the Kelly Cup after they defeated the Stockton Thunder four games to one.[3]

On June 6, 2014, the Royals and the Philadelphia Flyers announced their affiliation.[4] The Royals were previously affiliates with the Los Angeles Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins,[5] and Carolina Hurricanes.[6]