ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Acquire Forward Aaron Lewicki and Defenseman Ryan

January 31, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals of the ECHL, affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League and the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, today announced that the team has acquired forward Aaron Lewicki ["loo WICK ee"] and defenseman Ryan Blair from the Toledo Walleye as completion future considerations element of the trade that sent forward Todd Griffith to the Walleye on January 28, 2012. In separate transactions previously completed, the Royals (i) traded goaltender Joe Palmer to the Gwinnett Gladiators for future considerations; and (ii) placed defenseman Louis Liotti on the 7-Day Injured Reserve. In another transaction previously completed, goaltender Michael Hutchinson was recalled from Reading by the Boston Bruins.

Lewicki (6'0/202) (24), a second year pro from Livonia, Michigan, registered sixteen points (9g-7a) and sixteen penalty minutes in thirty-eight games with the Walleye. Lewicki, who also played one game in the AHL this season with the Abbottsford Heat, was selected as the Central Hockey League's Rookie of the Year in 2009-10, when he recorded fifty-two points (23g-29a) in sixty-two games with the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees. Lewicki had an exceptional four year collegiate career at Ferris State University, where he was bestowed with the CCHA Terry Flanagan Award after his senior season for overcoming personal adversity and being an active member on the university campus and the surrounding community. That season, Lewicki, who recorded 71 points (35g-36a) and sixty-six penalty minutes in 148 games with Bulldogs, was an integral member of the FSU team that made it to CCHA Playoff Championship game before falling in overtime in the finals.

Blair (6'4/214) (25), a first year pro from Ashburn, Virginia, recorded three points (1g-2a) and eight penalty minutes in twenty-eight games with the Walleye. Blair began the season with the Cincinnati Cyclones, where he played three games without registering any points or penalty minutes. Blair, who played collegiately at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, had 36 points (3g-33a) and seventy-four penalty minutes in 141 total college games.

Griffith, a sixth year pro from Welland, Ontario, registered eight points (5g-3a) and twenty-three penalty minutes in fourteen games with Reading. Palmer, a third year pro from Yorkville, New York, played in sixteen games for the Royals and compiled a 5-6-1-2 record with a 3.16 goals against average and a .916 save percentage. His games with Reading included a 6-3 win over the Wheeling Nailers at Cambria County War Memorial Arena in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, when he made 51 saves-the third most in Royals' team history. Hutchinson, a second year pro from Barrie, Ontario, was assigned to Reading by the Boston Bruins from the Providence Bruins on January 26. He won his first start of the season on Friday night, stopping forty of forty-two shots in a 4-2 win over the Wheeling Nailers. Hutchinson, a third round pick of the Bruins in 2008, made thirty-five saves (35/40) in a 5-1 loss to the Kalamazoo Wings on Sunday.

The Royals continue the team's six game road trip with three in a row against the Florida Everblades starting tomorrow (Wednesday, February 1, 2012 @ 7:30 pm) at Germain Arena in Estero, Florida. The game night broadcast on Wednesday will start at 7:00 pm with the Red Robin Gourmet Burger Pre-Game Warm-up Show on ESPN Radio 1240 am in Reading. Streaming audio is available free of charge courtesy of America One through the Royals' website, www.royalshockey.com. As with all Royals' road games this season, Wednesday's game will be televised locally in Berks County Pennsylvania on BCTV courtesy of Boscov's Travel and the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.

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