Photo Credit: Reading Royals
There will be many questions facing this young Reading Royals team come the new season. Some questions range from how will they respond after a tough 2023-24 campaign, to which Jason Binkley took over for former Coach James Henry? Are the Royals more prepared to start the new season given the understanding with more experience of how the coaching staff wants them to play? These are some very valid questions that people have. Today, the Royals announced two players that have re-signed in Shane Sellar and Yvan Mongo.
With that being said, there’s a flashy, lightning rod Center/Winger that has agreed to return for another season in Shane Sellar. Sellar stands at 6’3 and weighs 201 pounds, and has all the skills to be a Lehigh Valley Phantom in the future, “Growing up I looked up to him (My Dad). He took the role of my teams. He kind of let me be myself, he never pressured me to play the sport. If I want to get better I had to take ownership of that,” Sellar stated in an interview with Jamey Baskow last offseason.
There is little doubt that Sellar agreed to re-sign, not only because he believes in the team, but there is familiarity with being a hometown young man (Carlisle, PA), “It was a bit nerve racking for playing for the hometown team. Not pressure, with family and all. It just gave me a shot to prove myself,” Sellar said.
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Yvan Mongo
With that being said, another winger has agreed in principle to return to the Royals this coming season, and that is none other than Yvan Mongo. Mongo stands at 5’9 and weighs 187 pounds, and has all the skills to be a Lehigh Valley Phantom in the future, “I know the coaching staff, and the area I’m comfortable there,” Mongo said to Jamey Baskow in an exclusive interview as to why he is returning to Reading last offseason. “I’m happy to come back.”
Mongo continued, “It means a lot to hear this from my teammates, this means a lot. Life is good.” People have spoken highly about Mongo, and that he is a hard worker. He trains, trains, trains in Montreal, CAN during the offseason, and he says it is beautiful there. He is from Gatineau, QC, CAN, so there is familiarity within the area.
The University of Ottawa product, Mongo just wants to show people he belongs in the sport. If one has seen him play these past few seasons, then they would have noticed his silky hands, and overall solid speed. He knows he has to work on decision making, but what Mongo possesses is a high hockey IQ, to pair with his good passing abilities.
“My parents (When asked who defined him in the sport of hockey). I went through tough times, and my parents were my biggest support systems. And those systems helped me become a hockey player.” – Mongo said to Jamey Baskow in an exclusive interview last offseason
Hopefully, Mongo continues to mold himself into a fine hockey hockey player. His unselfish attitude cannot be taught, as Mongo appears to have a good head on his shoulders. The best is yet to come for Mongo and his family, but he is determined to be a leader for this young Royals team for the 2024-25 season.
