Reading Royals, Toronto Maple Leafs join forces

READING , Pa – The Reading Royals announced today that the team will become the new ECHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Marlies. Reading replaces the Columbia Inferno as the Leafs ECHL affiliate with the Inferno having to voluntarily suspend operations due to the construction of a new arena in Lexington County, S.C.
The Los Angeles Kings of the NHL and the Manchester Monarchs of the AHL, who have served as the Royals’ affiliates for the past seven seasons, will continue in a participating affiliation relationship with Reading. The Ontario Reign (CA), a new ECHL franchise that will being play this fall will also serve as the Kings affiliate.
The news came as a shock to Royals fans who were expecting an announcement of the team’s new Head Coach. Instead, Royals fans found out the team has linked themselves with one of the most storied franchises in all of professional hockey.
“ We are excited to enter into a new era of Royals’ hockey,” said Royals’ General Manager Gordon Kaye, “and to align our team with the Maple Leafs’ organization, which is so richly steeped in hockey history and success. Our organization certainly looks forward to the challenge of helping young players within the Toronto system advance their careers. But just as important for our team, we believe that this relationship will provide us with the best opportunity to give our fans what they want and deserve—an ECHL championship.”
“The Maple Leafs’ organization is pleased to join forces with the Royals,” said Jeff Jackson, the Assistant General Manager and Director of Hockey Operations of the Maple Leafs. “We are well aware of the success that the Royals have experienced in Reading, both on and off the ice, and we look forward to becoming an active participant in that success.
“We’re hopeful that Reading will serve as a springboard in the development of young players within our system,” Jackson continued, “and, in turn, we’re hopeful that those players will provide tangible dividends for the Royals and their fans. An important part of the development process is teaching young players how to win at the professional level and we think that there is no better place in the ECHL to do that than in Reading.”
Reid Mitchell, Manager, Hockey Administration and Scouting Coordinator for the Maple Leafs, was on hand to make the announcement.
“We couldn’t be happier from a Toronto perspective. The Leafs brand seems to be everywhere our big team travels. It doesn’t matter if it’s across the country or across the world there seems to be Leafs fans everywhere. Hopefully we can gain some new Leafs fans out of this.”
So what promoted the Leafs to seek out the Royals?
“When Columbia went on suspension, we went looking for a new affiliation. We wanted to find someone who had a really solid organization, good ownership, good management, great fans support, and we couldn’t have found a better one than in the Reading Royals.”
“In hockey circles, the management of this group is very strong. It’s a great arena here with the Sovereign Center, and the fan support is second to none. Plus being close to Toronto our management staff can keep track of our players here and keep tabs on them without having to travel so far.”
One of the chief concerns among local fans was the fact that very few Kings prospects were sent to the Royals. Fans hope this time around the affiliation will not just be in name only.
“We are trying to stockpile our organization with prospects, not only in the AHL but here as well. Unfortunately do to some things that are out of our control such as injuries but we will have a good number of prospects here in Reading so our fans can watch them grow onto bigger and better things.”
Now all the Royals need is a new head coach.
“Ultimately it will be up to the Royals. They have asked for our input a little bit, but it will be up to them. I am sure we will have a good relationship no matter who it might be.”
Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com