ECHL training camps began on Monday, on Thursday I was at the Arena in downtown Reading for the first time since April. This was our annual preseason run-through, we rehearsed several of the intermission activities and in-game contests. The Royals are beginning their 24th year as an on-ice entity with a brand-new coaching staff, new head coach Anthony Peters is a former goaltender with stops in the ECHL, the AHL and Europe. His assistants are Wes Wolfe and former Phantom Bruce Coles (and this is the first time I can recall the club having two assistant coaches). The training camp roster lists eight players who played for the Royals previously: goaltenders Vinnie Purpura and Keith Petruzzelli, defensemen Robbie Stucker and forwards Nick Capone, Cam Cook, Connor McMenamin and Yvan Mongo (in addition, forward Alec Butcher has returned after a two-year absence). The club plays thirty-six home games, Wheeling visits eight times with Norfolk coming in for seven. The brand-new Greensboro Gargoyles (!!!) visit five times, Adirondack and Worcester four times each. Maine and Trois-Rivières come in three times each and the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (from the league's Southern Division) round it out with a pair of games in February. The Royals begin with a seven-game road trip due to the Arena being heavily booked in October, the home opener is on November 8 vs playoff nemesis Trois-Rivieres. Take care, thanks for reading.
