ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Sign Defenseman Kevin Schaeffer

October 2, 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 signed defenseman Kevin Schaeffer ["SHAY fuhr"]. In separate transactions, the Royals have also signed forward Jason McCrimmon and defenseman Steve Ward. Reading has also invited goaltenders Miro Recicar ["MEE row RASS ih car"] and Nick Niedert ["NEE durt"] to training camp.

Last season, Schaeffer (6'1"/200) (23) started with the Royals and scored two goals and assisted on five others in nineteen games before being loaned to the Providence Bruins of the AHL where he played thirty-one games, scoring a goal and picking up an assist before returning to the Royals for the playoffs. In the post-season with Reading, Schaeffer, who was a sixth round pick of the Nashville Predators in the 2004 Entry Draft, scored a huge game winning goal against the Elmira Jackals in the North Division Semi-Finals and assisted on three others in eleven post-season games.

Prior to turning pro, Schaeffer, who was born in South Huntington, New York, put together a stellar four year career at Boston University, where he played 152 collegiate games and helped the Terriers reach the NCAA Tournament three times. In his first year at Boston University, Schaeffer became the first freshman defenseman in school history to register a hattrick when he bagged three goals against the Yale Bulldogs on November 30, 2003, earning a selection as the Hockey East Rookie of the Week. At the conclusion of his freshman year, Schaeffer, who was second in scoring among freshman with the Terriers, was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team. In his final three seasons at BU, Schaeffer and his teammates had quite a run, winning three consecutive Beanpot Tournaments in Boston, as well as advancing to the NCAAs.

Last year with the Royals, Schaeffer not only scored his first pro goal (in his second game with the team), he also scored his first pro game winner, when he bagged the second goal of the game against his former BU teammate, goaltender John Curry, who was in net for the Wheeling Nailers in Reading's 4-1 win on December 5, 2007. Schaeffer also played to a plus in his final six games of the regular season with Royals (+11) before getting loaned to Providence. Schaeffer's lone goal in the AHL last year was the first goal of the game in the Bruins' 4-3 win over the Springfield Falcons on January 25, 2008. Schaeffer's return to the Royals for the post-season proved to be in the nick of time, as in his first game back-Game Three of the North Division Semi's-he bagged the GWG when his goal broke a 2-2 tie 10:34 into the third period to give the Royals a 2-1 lead in the best of seven series.

McCrimmon (6'4/238) (25), who hails from Detroit, Michigan, split his rookie season last year between three teams, the Muskegon Fury (International Hockey League), the Mississippi RiverKings (Central Hockey League), and the Indiana Ice Miners (Mid-Atlantic Hockey League). McCrimmon, who played two seasons at Northland College (Ashland, Wisconsin) and one year at Suffolk University (Boston), scored a goal, assisted on two others and racked up 106 penalty minutes in a total of twenty-nine games last year.

Ward (5'11/187) (22), who hails from Scarborough, Ontario, began his rookie season last year with the Florida Everblades where he scored his first pro goal, assisted on thirteen others, and picked up forty-nine penalty minutes in forty-five games before being called up in mid-February to the Albany River Rats of the AHL. Ward stuck with Albany, playing twenty eight regular season games (1g-7a=8pts, 15 pims) and seven playoff games through the remainder of the 2007-08 season. Ward joined the pro ranks last season after playing 249 regular season major junior hockey games over five seasons with the Sarnia Sting and Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League. During his time in the OHL, Ward scored thirty-seven goals, assisted on eighty-four others (121 points) and picked up 258 penalty minutes. In his final year of juniors, 2006-07, Ward served as team captain for the Whalers, who won the OHL Championship and advanced to the Memorial Cup Tournament, where the team finished third.

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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