The Reading Royals (ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms) enter their 25th anniversary season in 2026-27 with continuity under head coach/GM Anthony Peters, a solid core of returning players, new additions on the blue line, and a competitive but not dominant outlook in a tough North Division.
2025-26 Recap
In Peters’ first full season (after joining from the Florida Everblades staff), the Royals went 36-26-8-2 (82 points) and finished 4th in the North Division. They made the Kelly Cup Playoffs but fell 1-4 to the Wheeling Nailers in the North Division Semifinals.
The season was defined by resilience and structure rather than dominance (199 goals for, 205 against). Depth scoring and a “next-man-up” approach helped them stay in the playoff mix amid inconsistency. Standouts included Defenseman Ben Meehan (12G-34A-46P) and Forwards like Brandon Saigeon, Carson Golder, Jeremy Michel, and Connor McMenamin. Goaltending was serviceable (Keith Petruzzelli and Yaniv Perets shared the load) but not elite.
Coaching and Staff
Peters remains Head Coach and General Manager. The staff has been bolstered with Justin Stevens as an Assistant Coach (announced July 2026), alongside continuing assistants. New head athletic trainer Jake Garwood was added in August 2026.
Roster Building for 2026-27
The Royals have focused on retaining key pieces and adding defensive depth:Key re-signings (as of mid-August 2026):
- Defensemen: Miles Gendron (2025-26 captain), Artem Kulakov, Jack Page, Carter Schade.
- Forwards: Connor McMenamin, Jeremy Michel, Austin Saint, Jordan Frasca.
New signings: Defensemen Luke Reid (from Adirondack/Utica pipeline experience) and Austin Mourar (local ties as a Reading Jr. Royals coach and Spring City, PA native).
Notable departures include some 2025-26 contributors (e.g., Jake Willets, Jacob Frasca to college). The roster remains fluid with AHL call-ups/assignments from the Flyers/Phantoms system expected. Early indications point to a balanced group emphasizing structure, two-way play, and depth—core strengths under Peters—while seeking more consistent scoring and tighter defensive play.
Schedule and Division
The 72-game schedule opens on the road vs. Greensboro (October 16-17), with the home opener at Santander Arena on October 24 vs. Kalamazoo (a two-game set). It is the club’s 25th anniversary season.
North Division opponents (55 of 72 games) include Adirondack Thunder, Greensboro Gargoyles, Maine Mariners, Norfolk Admirals, Trenton Ironhawks (relocated from Utah), Trois-Rivières Lions, and Worcester Railers. Wheeling remains a key rival from the prior season’s playoff matchup. The division is competitive, with several established playoff teams.
Outlook
The Royals project as a playoff contender again—likely aiming for a top-4 North Division finish and a deeper postseason run than the first-round exit in 2025-26. Strengths include coaching continuity and system buy-in, veteran leadership (Gendron and others), and local/organizational depth. Areas to improve are generating more sustained offense, closing out tight games, and defensive consistency (a noted weakness last year).As a Flyers affiliate, success will partly depend on prospect development and call-up traffic.
With the anniversary season providing extra energy and community focus, Reading has a realistic path to contend but will need better special teams/execution against stronger division foes to become a true Kelly Cup threat. Early roster moves suggest a steady, competitive year rather than a dramatic leap.
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