ECHL Reading Royals

Kevin Saurette Returns To Reading

Published on August 28, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals of the ECHL, affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League and the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League, today announced that the team has signed right wing Kevin Saurette ["sir EHT"]. Last season, Saurette (6'0"/190 lbs) scored ten goals, assisted on eight others, and picked up forty penalty minutes in thirty-seven games with the Royals. Saurette, who turned twenty-seven on June 27, also played twenty-four AHL games last season with the Binghamton Senators, scoring two goals and picking up two assists.

2007-08 will mark the third season for Saurette in Reading. His first stint with the Royals came late in the 2005-06 season, after the conclusion of his five-year Canadian university career at the University of Manitoba. That year, Saurette, who hails from Winnipeg, Manitoba, had the bittersweet distinction of scoring the final goal of the Royals' 2005-06 season, when he gave Reading a 4-3 lead 5:45 into the second period of Game Four in the North Division Semi-Final match-up against the Wheeling Nailers. Unfortunately, however, the Nailers came back to win that game 5-4 and eliminate Reading from the playoffs.

Last season, Saurette picked up right where he left off for the Royals, scoring the team's second goal of the year-to tie the game at two early in the third period in the season opener against the Trenton Titans, a game which the Royals ultimately won 3-2. Saurette's energetic presence and production continued in the early season, as he picked up eight points (four goals and four assists) in the Royals' first eleven games. However, a knee injury on November 17, 2006, kept him out of action for some forty days. Upon his return to the ice, Saurette earned the first call up of his career to the AHL by Binghamton in early February. After a three game stint with the Senators, Saurette returned to the Royals and, in his first game back with Reading, bagged a pair of goals in the Royals' 5-3 win over the Cincinnati Cyclones on February 14. Not long thereafter, Saurette was called back to the Senators, this time sticking for twenty-one AHL games, the highlight of which came on March 17, when he scored two goals (including the game winner) in Binghamton's 5-2 win over the Portland Pirates.

With time running down on the Royals' season and the team in desperate need for wins, Saurette returned to Reading on April 5 for a must-win show-down against Trenton. Saurette promptly struck pay dirt, scoring what proved to be the game winner 6:19 into the first period of the Royals' 5-0 win over the Titans. Saurette also assisted on the game winner in the second to last game of the season against the Johnstown Chiefs-a 4-3 win for Reading, which kept the team's playoff hopes alive up to the seventy-second and final game of the regular season.

Prior to turning pro, Saurette had a distinguished five year career for the University of Manitoba Bison. In his freshman season, he led all first year players in the Canada West Universities Athletic Association in scoring and was named to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport All-Freshman Team, as well being recognized as the Bison's Rookie of the Year. In his final two seasons at UM, Saurette was selected as a Second Team Canada West All Star, and he twice received the Mike Ridley Award which is presented to the UM full-time student who best displays the combination of superior athletic ability, good academic standing and high leadership qualities.

The Royals' home opener is on Saturday, November 3, 2007, against the Cincinnati Cyclones. Royals' full Season Tickets and Total Choice Flex Plans are now on sale. To obtain more information on becoming a part of Royals' hockey, call 610-898-PUCK to speak with Royals' ticket representative or visit the Royals website, www.royalshockey.com.

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