Reading Royals Media Release

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                            Contact: John R. Curtis

 Royals Top Point Getter Signs for 2004-05

“Graig Mischler agrees to one year contract with Reading”

Reading, PA –  The Reading Royals, affiliates of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and AHL’s Manchester Monarchs, have announced 2003-04 leading scorer Graig Mischler has signed a one-year agreement with the club.  Mischler will be beginning his fourth professional season in 2004-05 after a stellar four-year career at Northeastern University.

“Misch is a solid two-way player for us,” commented Royals bench boss Derek Clancey from his home in Jackson, Mississippi.  “He was quietly our leading scorer in the regular season and really took it to another level in the playoffs.  He is a guy that really has a complete game and we are happy to have him back for next season.”

 Mischler, 25, was the Royals top point man during the regular season (57) and finished second in that category in the postseason.  During the Kelly Cup playoffs the New York native posted five goals and two game-winning goals, which ranked second on the club.  He led the squad in assists during the regular campaign with 44 and also was the top contributor on the power play with 21 points.  The Royals first-year centerman posted seven of his 12 postseason points during decisive games three and four in the Eastern Conference Finals versus the Florida Everblades.  Mischler paced his club to victory with back-to-back game-winning goals in those contests to force a deciding game five, which the Everblades prevailed 3-2 in Florida.

 Mischler becomes the third returning player of the four signed Royals, “I’m excited to be back in Reading based on the team we had last year, coach Clancey and most importantly the fans.  That was my first playoff experience and it was a lot of fun.  I’m happy with what we accomplished but I am also bitter we didn’t make it to the Kelly Cup Finals.”

 The eighth round selection of the Vancouver Canucks in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft says he is still excited about reaching the next plateau, “I took a lot of pride in bringing such a successful season for the City of Reading and it’s fans – they deserve it!  Personally, I am motivated to battle next season and hopefully advance to the next step.”

 Mischler led the club in multiple point games during the regular season with 19.  He added two more in the postseason to post 21 in 81 games played.  The third-year professional also was deadly in shootouts converting on team leading four of nine opportunities.

 To date, the Royals have four players under contract for the 2004-05 season.  Defensemen Simon Mangos and Ian Turner along with forwards Peter Hay and Graig Mischler.

The Reading Royals are entering their fourth season in Reading, Pennsylvania after relocating from Columbus, Ohio.  The Royals enjoyed their first Kelly Cup playoff appearance last season, claiming the Northern Division Title and were one win away from qualifying for the Kelly Cup Finals.   The Royals and the City of Reading are proud to be hosting the 13^th annual ECHL All-Star Game and Skills Competition presented by Coors Light on January 25 and 26.

 For ticket information including; season, half-season, voucher packs and group ticket packages visit the Royals website at www.royalshockey.com or call the Royals hockey headquarters at 610-898-PUCK (7825).  Royals hockey…BLEED PURPLE!
 

Draft Status: 1998 - Vancouver Canucks – 8^th round, 204^th overall

LAST GOAL:       5/5/04 vs FLA (2)                                                                                                LAST ASSIST:    5/10/04 @ FLA

7/16/04 Signed contract for the 2004-05 season

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

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

1997-98         Northeastern                   HE             39          7              13            20            22

1998-99         Northeastern                   HE             33          8              15            23            36

1999-00       Northeastern                    HE             34          9              14            23            22

2000-01       Northeastern                    HE             36          10            32            42            34                           

2001-02       Cleveland                          AHL         65          10            14            24            71           

2002-03       Cleveland                          AHL         67          12            12            24            64

2003-04       Reading                           ECHL       69         13           44           57           100         12           5              7              12           6             

·         1998-2001…Teammates with Royals #7 Leon Hayward & #24 Chris Lynch at Northeastern University

·         1999-00, 2000-01…Led Huskies in scoring

·         2000-01…Led Hockey East in assists (32) – Named All-Hockey East Honorable mention

·         10/17/03…Signed contract with Royals

·         10/17/03 @ TRE…Registered a goal and assist in first ECHL game (6-1 win)

·         12/20/03 @ ATC…Registered first multiple-goal game (2g)

·         12/14/03 – 12/21/03…3-game point streak (2g, 3a)

·         12/30/03 vs Japan…Scored two third period goals including the game winner (3-2) against Japan (exhibition)

·         1/24/04 – 1/31/04…Notched 4 consecutive multiple-point efforts – (2-7-9)

·         1/24/04 – present…Has scored in eight consecutive games (4-11-15) +4

·         2/6/04…Registered multiple point games in 3 of last 4 outings (2g, 6a)

·         2/6/04 @ ATC…Registered team leading 12^th multiple point game

·         3/12/04-3/19/04…Scored in 4-straight games (3-4-7), three of those games multiple point efforts – leads team with (18)

·         4/3/04 vs. TOL…Broke a season high seven-game scoring drought in a 3-2 win (3a)

·         4/15/04…Registered a point in first two games back after missing three games due to injury (1g, 1a)

·         4/17/04 @ PEO…Assisted on overtime game-winning goal by Judd Medak (2-1OTW)

·         5/2 vs FLA…Registered three-point effort (2g, 1a, GW) in the Royals (6-0W)

·         5/5 vs FLA…Posted first Royals four-point post-season effort (2g, 2a, GW) in Royals 4-1 win