Reading Royals enter 2023-24 season ready to make up for past missed opportunities
Oct. 19—The Reading Royals will begin their 2023-24 season in the same place their 2023 Kelly Cup playoff run came to an end.
Five months after it was eliminated by Newfoundland in Game 5 of the ECHL North Division finals, Reading will begin its season against the Growlers on Friday at 5:30 p.m. in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
"Newfoundland was obviously a tough team," forward Brendan Hoffmann said. "The experience we got last year in that atmosphere is going to, if anything, make it a little more personal this year if we happen to meet them on the same stage."
The Royals and Growlers will play a three-game, weekend series. The two teams will meet eight times this season.
Reading finished in second, 10 points behind North Division champion Newfoundland, in the 2022-23 regular season. After an opening-round victory over Maine in the postseason, the Royals lost 4-1 to the Growlers in a best-of-seven series, marking the second straight year in which they were eliminated by Newfoundland in the second round.
"Some of the things that they can take away from last season are the missed opportunities throughout the way," Reading coach James Henry said about his players. "Hopefully some of those moments are in their memory."
The Royals will open their home schedule on Saturday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m. against Trois-Rivières at Santander Arena. Reading will conclude its two-game series against the Lions on Sunday, Oct. 29, at 3 p.m.
"Defending home ice is a big one," forward Alec Butcher said. "We dropped the ball there in the playoffs."
Hoffman and Butcher are two of 10 returning players for the Royals, who announced their 24-player, season-opening roster on Thursday. Following the departure of forwards Charlie Gerard, Max Newton, Jacob Gaucher and Evan Barratt, Butcher is the team's top returning scorer, as he ranked fifth last year with 21 goals and 49 points.
"The biggest thing for us right off the start is how prepared we are to work and how willing we are to compete," Henry said. "The effort and the attitude, that's what I'm looking for."
Returning defenseman Mason Millman, Philadelphia's 2019 fourth-round draft selection, and new defenseman Will Zmolek are the two players on the roster under contract with the Flyers. New goaltender Jacob Kucharski was selected in the seventh round of the 2018 draft by the Carolina Hurricanes, who maintain his NHL rights.
Nolan Maier returns in net after playing 24 games with Reading a season ago. Maier posted a 2.89 goals-against average, an .892 save percentage and a 12-8-3 record.
"Hopefully they can internally keep each other accountable (and) hold that standard up as high as possible," Henry said about his returning players. "They know what I expect out of them."
Whether they are a newcomer or an experienced veteran, the Royals enter the season with a sense of responsibility.
"The coaches expect all the returning players to set an example," Hoffman said. "The most important thing is, whether it's your first year or your 10th year, you're going to look to set an example yourself and lead by what you do, not by what you say."
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Reading Royals season-opening roster
Goaltenders: Jacob Kucharski, Eric Dop, Nolan Maier.
Defensemen: Tyler Heidt, Will Zmolek, Trevor Thurston, Mason Millman, Darren Brady, Adam Brubacher, Koletrane Wilson, Mike Chen.
Forwards: Nicolas Ouellet, Brendan Hoffmann, Alec Butcher, Shane Sellar, Tyson Fawcett, Joseph Nardi, Austin Master, Solag Bakich, Ryan Chyzowski, Spencer Kennedy, Devon Paliani, Mason McCarty, Yvan Mongo.
