ECHL Reading Royals

Taylor Christie Returns To Reading

August 9, 2007 - 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 defenseman Taylor Christie ["CHRIS tee"]. Last season, Christie (6'3"/210 lbs) scored four goals, assisted on sixteen others (twenty points), and picked up sixty-five penalty minutes in fifty-three games with the Royals. Christie, who turned twenty-four last February 1, began the 2006-07 season with the Utah Grizzles of the ECHL and played sixteen games for Utah, picking up thirty-seven penalty minutes, prior to being released in late November. The Royals claimed Christie, who hails from Toronto, Ontario, off waivers; and, in his first game with Reading, he promptly picked up an assist on the Royals' short-handed insurance goal by Greg Hogeboom in the team's 3-1 win over the Gwinnett Gladiators on November 29, 2006.

After his four seasons of junior hockey concluded with an Ontario Hockey Federation Junior A Championship title and a trip to the Royal Bank Cup Junior A playoffs with the Thornhill Rattlers, Christie was recruited to Bowling Green State University, where he scored a goal, assisted on eight others, and picked up 150 penalty minutes in his four year career with the Falcons. After his freshman season at BGSU, Christie was selected in the sixth round (#195 overall) in the NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche. Perhaps the highlight of Christie's collegiate career came during his senior season, when he scored the game's first goal-and the only one in his collegiate career (in his 108th game for the Falcons)-in what proved to be a 4-1 win for BGSU over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in front of a packed home crowd on a night when the school was honoring alumnae Rob Blake and Nelson Emerson. Christie made a smooth transition to pro in 2005-06, scoring three goals, assisting on eight others, and picking up eighty-eight penalty minutes in sixty-nine games for the Phoenix Roadrunners of the ECHL.

For the Royals last season, Christie did a little bit of everything, including taking the periodic shift as a forward. Christie's first goal for Reading gave the team a 2-1 lead in what proved to be a 7-4 victory over the Trenton Titans on December 10, 2006; however, his biggest goal for the team may have come on March 17, 2007, when he jumped deep into the offensive zone early in the second period and scored what proved to be the game winner in a 3-1 win over the Johnstown Chiefs. When it was called for, Christie was also pretty effective with the fisticuffs as well, picking up three fighting majors on the season, including an epic throw-down with Paul Bissonnette of the Wheeling Nailers on February 18.

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.

6 Taylor Christie Toronto, ON

DEFENSE

HT: 6'3"

WT: 210

DOB: 02-01-83

SHOOTS: L

Career Notes:

v Selected, Most Improved Player, Thornhill Rattlers, Ontario Hockey Federation Junior A (1999-00)

v Member, Championship Team, Thornhill Rattlers, OHF Jr. A (2000-01)

v Member, Royal Bank Cup Canadian Jr. A Playoff Team, Thornhill Rattlers (2001)

v Selected By Colorado Avalanche, 6th Round (#195 Overall), NHL Entry Draft (2002)

v Only Defenseman On Team To End Season With Positive Plus/Minus (+2), Bowling Green State University (2003-04)

v Selected, Central Collegiate Hockey Association Defenseman of Week, BGSU, 01/31/05

v Led Team, Penalty Minutes (62), BGSU (2004-05)

2007-08 Transactions:

v Signed To ECHL Contract By Reading Royals, 08/08/07

-----Regular Season----- -----Playoffs-----

SEASON TEAM LGE GP G A PTS PIMS GP G A PTS PIMS

2001-02 Bowling Green St. U. NCAA 37 0 2 2 40

2002-03 Bowling Green St. U. NCAA 36 0 1 1 30

2003-04 Bowling Green St. U. NCAA 12 0 3 3 18

2004-05 Bowling Green St. U. NCAA 36 1 2 3 62

2005-06 Phoenix Roadrunners ECHL 69 3 8 11 88 -- -- -- -- --

2006-07 Utah Grizzlies ECHL 16 0 0 0 37 -- -- -- -- --

Reading Royals ECHL 53 4 16 20 65 -- -- -- -- --

Check out the Reading Royals Statistics



ECHL Stories from August 9, 2007


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