Reading Royals The Reading Royals are a professional ice hockey team that currently plays in the ECHL . The team participates in the Atlantic Division of the ECHL ' s Eastern Conference . The Royals play their home games at the Sovereign Center located in downtown Reading , Pennsylvania . The Royals colors are purple , black , silver , and white . Since 2001 , the Royals have ranked among ECHL leaders in regular season attendance . On March 25 , 2006 against the Trenton Titans , the Royals reached their one millionth fan in attendance . Reading Royals hosted two ECHL All - Star Games ; one in 2005 and one in 2009 . Franchise history . Columbus Chill and Kings era . The Reading Royals were founded in 1991 as the Columbus Chill . David Paitson was team ' s first President / General Manager and former NHL player Terry Ruskowski , the head coach , started the team with a goal of introducing new audiences to the sport of ice hockey and building a strong fan base . The two were successful with the help of an extensive marketing plan . The Chill ' s 83 - game sellout streak beginning in early January 1992 still stands as a minor league hockey record today . It would take the team two seasons to reach the playoffs , doing so in 1994 under coach Ruskowski . The Chill would go on to win two conference championships and make the playoffs for five of the eight seasons . The Chill were a key part of the growth of hockey in Columbus , Ohio and paved the way for the NHL expansion Columbus Blue Jackets . The 1998 – 99 season would be the franchise ' s final season as the Columbus Chill as the team suspended operations for both the 1999 - 2000 season and the 2000 - 2001 season . The Chill relocated during their inactive two year status to their present location in downtown Reading , Pennsylvania for the 2000 - 2001 season to make room for the Jackets . The move created big changes for the franchise . In 2001 , the franchise returned to active status in the ECHL with a new name and colors . The Columbus Chill were then renamed to the Reading Royals and became the ECHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings of the NHL and the Manchester Monarchs of the AHL . The Royals first entrance into the Kelly Cup Playoffs came in 2004 while in their third season , when they won the North Division Championship under head coach Derek Clancey . Then during the next season , they became the North Division Regular Season Champions , only to lose to the eventual Kelly Cup Champion , Trenton Titans in the North Division Finals . Under coach Karl Taylor , the Royals had generally mediocre performance in regular season and post - season play . For three seasons straight , the Royals were unable to play past the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs . The 2007 – 2008 season was another story . Skaters Dany Roussin and Brock Hooton enjoyed some fame in Reading due to their " goal - a - game " nature for much of the season , while tough - guys Steven Later and Malcolm MacMillian were among league leaders in penalty minutes . After a strong finish to a boring regular season , Taylor led the team to the North Division Finals where their tour ended in a heated 7 - game battle with the unstoppable Cincinnati Cyclones . The Cyclones continued on to sweep past other teams to win the cup , but the Royals were the only team to take them to seven games in the playoffs . Some better - known players that played for the Royals include Los Angeles Kings goaltenders Barry Brust , Jonathan Quick , and Yutaka Fukufuji ; Phoenix Coyotes winger Ryan Flinn ; Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer ; and Anaheim Ducks winger George Parros , who was the first Royal to appear in the Stanley Cup finals . Veteran Larry " The Legend " Courville and former head coach Derek Clancey have also contributed to the Royals organization . The end of an era ; a new dawn in Reading . The 2007 – 2008 season would be Karl Taylor ' s last with the Royals organization . In late June 2008 , General Manager Gordon Kaye announced that Taylor will leave Reading to serve as coach for the new Ontario Reign of the ECHL for 08 – 09 . The Royals were left without a coach , and had not yet announced any prospects . In a press conference on July 9 , 2008 , the Royals became the primary ECHL affiliate of the Boston Bruins and the secondary ECHL affiliate for the Toronto Maple Leafs for the 2008 – 2009 season . The Royals continue to wear their colors of purple , black , and silver . The Sovereign Center and the city of Reading , Pennsylvania are also the hosts of the 2009 All - Star Game and Skills Challenge for the ECHL . During this exciting upcoming season , as an affiliate of a team with great history , the Royals plan to highlight the rich tradition of hockey in Reading - as well as Boston , an Original Six team . Gordon Kaye ( GM ) has a great feeling about what is to come . " We believe that this relationship with Boston will provide us with the best opportunity to give our fans what they want and deserve - an ECHL championship . " On July 24 , 2008 , Reading announced that Jason Nobili will be head coach for the 2008 – 2009 season . Unfortunately , Nobili was unable to coax much from the team and was dismissed by Kaye on January 6 , 2009 , with the team mired in last place overall in the ECHL . Larry Courville was named as interim coach for the remainder of the season . On April 4 of 2009 , General Manager Gordon Kaye announced that Courville will return for the 2009 – 2010 season as full - time head coach . On June 10 , 2009 , the Royals announced that the organization ’ s equipment manager , Pat Noecker , was selected as the Reebok Hockey ECHL Equipment Manager of the Year by the Society of Professional Hockey Equipment Managers ( SPHEM ) for the second season in a row . Noecker is a former professional hockey in - line goaltender who has also served as an emergency back - up for the Royals on a number of occasions . On August 4 , 2009 , The Royals announced it renewed their primary affiliation with the Bruins and Maple Leafs and the AHL ' s Toronto Marlies . On July 9 , 2012 , the Royals announed would be affiliating with the Washington Capitals . By becoming a Capitals affiliate , the team automatically became affilated with the AHL Hershey Bears who the Capitals top affiliate . Rivals . The Johnstown Chiefs ( now the Greenville Road Warriors ) were the Royals cross - state main rival . The Royals have other rivalries with the Trenton Titans and the Elmira Jackals .