The Reading Royals, proud ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms, announced that forward Jake Smith has been acquired from the Greenville Swamp Rabbits in exchange for Future Considerations.
Smith, 26, has recorded 23 points (12g-11a), two penalty minutes, and a +1 rating in 37 games to open the 2023-24 season. The Pickering, Ontario native is in the fifth season of his professional career, which has included stops in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL), Germany3, and ECHL. Smith has accumulated 184 points (94g-90a), 121 penalty minutes, and a -53 rating in 223 professional career games.
The 5’10”, 170-pound, right-shot forward has played in the ECHL for each of the last two seasons, where he’s totaled 114 points (59g-55a), 61 penalty minutes, and a -40 rating in 153 ECHL career games. Smith has played for Kansas City (5 gp), Iowa (57 gp), Norfolk (9 gp), Florida (45 gp), Tulsa (0 gp), and Greenville (37 gp) throughout his ECHL career. In his first season in the ECHL, Smith totaled 50 points (25g-25a), 35 penalty minutes, and a -23 rating and earned the ECHL Player of the Week for Jan. 10-16, where he registered 11 points (7g-6a) in four games, as well as the ECHL Rookie of the Month for January, where he recorded 20 points (10g-10a) in 13 games.
Smith began his professional career with the Evansville Thunderbolts in the SPHL out of Carleton University in the U Sports. At Carleton University, Smith totaled 35 points (17g-18a) and 30 penalty minutes in 27 games played. He was selected as the U Sports Rookie of the Year and an All-Rookie Team selection in the 2018-19 season.
Additionally, Smith played one season in the Ontario Hockey League for the Windsor Spitfires in 2018-19, following four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).
The Royals conclude their series against the Growlers on Wednesday, Feb. 21, for Wild Wednesday. Fans can enjoy a $2 dollar beer and $6.10 Orange Zone tickets. BOGO college student tickets are available at the box office at Santander Arena.
To order tickets, visit royalshockey.com/tickets.
Reading Royals Season Memberships, six-game plans, 10-game plans, and group tickets are available for the 2023-24 season now by visiting the Royals’ box office at Santander Arena or by calling 610-898-7825.
The Reading Royals, proud affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms, are in their 22nd season in the ECHL. They won their first Kelly Cup championship in 2013 and have clinched playoff berths in 12 of the previous 13 seasons. They are five-time division champions and were the 2021-22 Eastern Conference champions. The Berks County Convention Center Authority (BCCCA), founded in 1996, owns the Royals and oversees operations at Santander Arena.
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