Reading Royals

Franchise history

The Reading Royals were founded in 1991 as the Columbus Chill. David Paitson served as the team's first president and general manager, while former NHL player Terry Ruskowski was the head coach. The franchise aimed to introduce new audiences to ice hockey and build a strong fan base through an extensive marketing plan. The Chill set a minor league hockey record with an 83-game sellout streak beginning in early January 1992. The team reached the playoffs for the first time in 1994 under Ruskowski, later winning two conference championships and making the playoffs in five of eight seasons. The Chill contributed to the growth of hockey in Columbus, Ohio, paving the way for the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets in 2000.

The Chill suspended operations in 1999 to accommodate the Blue Jackets. During their inactive two-year status, the franchise relocated to Reading, Pennsylvania, for the 2001–02 season as the Reading Royals. Upon returning to active ECHL status, the Royals became the affiliate of the NHL's Los Angeles Kings and their AHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs. The team was partially owned by the Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), which also owned the Kings and Monarchs, with the remainder held by Santander Arena management, SMG.

The Royals made their first Kelly Cup playoff appearance in 2004, winning the North Division playoff championship under head coach Derek Clancey. The following season, they became North Division regular season champions but lost to the eventual Kelly Cup champion Trenton Titans in the North Division Finals. Under coach Karl Taylor from 2005 to 2008, the Royals had generally mediocre regular season performances. In the 2007–08 season, skaters Dany Roussin and Brock Hooton gained attention for their goal-a-game pace, while tough-guys Steven Later and Malcolm MacMillan ranked among league leaders in penalty minutes. After a strong regular season finish, Taylor led the team to the North Division Finals, where they lost a seven-game series to the Cincinnati Cyclones. The Cyclones went on to win the Kelly Cup, but the Royals were the only team to take them to seven games in the playoffs.