Royals Agree To Terms With Rob LaLonde
August 7, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release
Reading, PA - The Reading Royals of the ECHL, affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League and the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, today announced that the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Rob LaLonde ("lah-LOHND"). Last year, LaLonde (6'4"/210 lbs.) (26), who will be entering his third pro season, registered career highs in goals (8), assists (9), and points (17) in forty-three regular season games with Reading. LaLonde, who hails from Williamsville, New York, also picked up 155 penalty minutes for the Royals, which included a team high nine fighting majors. In 105 games over two seasons with the Royals, LaLonde, who was chosen as the Royals' Co-Defensive Player of the Year at last year's Fan's Choice Awards Banquet, has now amassed 311 total penalty minutes, which places him fourth all-time in Royals' history in that category.
LaLonde turned pro after the conclusion of his collegiate career at Merrimack College, where he played 130 games, scoring twelve goals and adding twenty six assists. While with the Warriors, LaLonde also racked up a total of 312 penalty minutes, leading the team in penalty minutes in both his sophomore and junior seasons. LaLonde's second year at Merrimack was his most productive, establishing season highs in points (5g - 9a = 14) and penalty minutes (88) in 34 games. LaLonde also led Merrimack in plus/minus in his freshman season when he played to a (+10) in 36 games. LaLonde, who played his junior hockey with the Cleveland Barons in the North American Hockey League, is a graduate of St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute in Kenmore, New York.
In his rookie season, 2006-07, LaLonde played 62 games with the Royals, scoring three goals and assisting on eleven others, while earning a pair of call-ups to the Binghamton Senators of the AHL. That year, LaLonde also racked up 156 penalty minutes and fourteen major penalties, placing him second amongst ECHL rookies in those categories.
This past season, LaLonde was limited to just 43 games due to injury, but was still able to surpass his offensive output in his rookie year. LaLonde's eight regular season goals included his first game winner as a pro in a 5-3 win over the Elmira Jackals on November 4, 2007 and his first short-handed goal as a pro-also against the Jackals-on November 24, 2007. However, perhaps no point registered by LaLonde last season was more important than the assist he picked up on Kevin Saurette's double-overtime series clinching game winner against the Jackals in Game Six of the North Division Semi-Finals on April 20, 2008.
The Royals open the 2008-09 regular season against the Elmira Jackals on Friday, October 17, 2008 at First Arena in Elmira, New York. The Royals' home opener is set for Saturday, October 25, 2008, when the Johnstown Chiefs visit the Sovereign Center. Royals' full Season Tickets and Total Choice Flex Plans are now on sale. To obtain more information on becoming a part Royals' hockey, call 610-898-PUCK to speak with Royals' ticket representative or visit the Royals website, www.royalshockey.com.
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