Photo Credit: The Reading Royals
With the Fall weather rolling in and cooling off the northeast things are just now heating up in Reading, Pennsylvania. Before the Summer, the Royals officially hired Jason Binkley as their Head Coach and General Manager. In addition, they have hired Ryan
Anderson as their Assistant Coach.
Anderson has 15 years of professional coaching
under his belt. His time spent in the ECHL was with the Norfolk Admirals as their Assistant Coach and Video Coach. Collectively Anderson has spent eight seasons in the North American Tier lll Hockey League and the North American Hockey League with the Texas Jr. Brahmas (NA3HL) and the Corpus Christi Ice Rays, Lone Star Brahmas, Amarillo Wranglers (NAHL).
Some familiar faces you will see from the 2023-24 Reading Royals season include Kenny Johnson, Shane Sellar, Yvan Mongo, Parker Gahagen, Tony Malinowski, and Tyler Gratton. A couple of new faces include goalie Vinnie Purpura and Forward Dominicks Marcinkevics. Purpura
and Travis Broughman both came from a player rights deal made with the Adirondack Thunder in exchange for the player rights of Tag Bertuzzi. Marcinkevics signed back in August, and he is in his second professional year. Spending time in the SPHL with the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs and winning the President’s Cup Championship with them back in 2023. Marcinkevics, the Latvian native is no stranger to Santander Arena or the Royals. Eight
of his thirteen games spent in the ECHL with the Adirondack Thunder were against the Royals. Four of his five ECHL points were also against the Royals. Small in stature, but a plowed source on the ice, Marcinkevics is sure to make an impact this upcoming season.
Former teammates Defenseman Kenny Johnson and Forward Connor McMenamin are back together since their time together at Penn State in 2019-23. Moreover, former teammates goalie Vinnie Purpura and Forward Nolan Welsh from Long Island University in 2020-23
are also back together for the first time professionally.
Royals fans may also feel a sense of familiarity with the coaching style between the Flyers’ Head Coach John Tortorella and Reading’s own Jason Binkley. Both Head Coaches have earned the respect of colleagues, players, and fans across the league with their straightforward approach. There’s always results and methods to their madness. The pre-season is just around the corner, and the Royals are set to take on the Adirondack Thunder in Glen Falls, New York on October 11.
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