The Reading Royals have been busy rounding out their roster as of late, picking up a pair of forwards this week within mere days of each other. On Tuesday, November 10th, the organization announced the signing of American forward and rookie Jack Suter. The two sides agreed to terms on a standard player contract for the upcoming season.
Three days later, on Friday, November 13th, the Royals announced the signing of American forward Ryan Scarfo. Additionally, these two signings come just a week after the team completed a deal with the Kansas City Mavericks. The team reportedly landed Matt Schmalz, while the Royals hockey club has yet to make things official.
Jack Suter
A rookie forward from Omaha, Nebraska, Jake Suter stands at six-feet tall while weighing in at 170 pounds. The 2020-21 season will mark Suter’s first of professional hockey. This is after spending four seasons with the UMass Minutemen in the NCAA.
Prior to committing to college, Suter spent two seasons playing with the Sioux Falls Stampede in the USHL. During the 2015-16 season, Suter, 25-years-old, helped guide the hockey club to the Clark Cup Championship.
Once he made the jump to college, Suter and the UMass Minutemen won the Hockey East Championship in 2018-19. The forward racked up 12 goals along with 25 assists which made for 37 points. He did so in 124 games.
In a statement from Kirk MacDonald, head coach of the Reading Royals, he said of the team’s latest signing, “Jack emerged as an excellent playmaker and a top-six forward for one of the top teams in college hockey and comes from a winning culture at the University of Massachusetts. We are thrilled to have him sign with Reading for his rookie season and help him build on a strong 2019-20.”
Ryan Scarfo
After spending parts of the past two seasons just north of Reading with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Ryan Scarfo is set to join the Royals in the ECHL for 2020-21. The forward stands at six feet tall while weighing in at 190 pounds. Scarfo is noted as a two-way forward, a trait that has been common among forwards signed by Reading thus far.
Prior to making the jump pro, Scarfo spent four seasons playing with the Union College Dutchmen in the NCAA. The forward was named the team’s alternate captain for his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. He made his professional debut in 2018 with the Belleville Senators.
In the AHL in the seasons to follow, Scarfo played 19 games with the Belleville Senators and 37 with the Penguins. He also played in the ECHL with the Brampton Beast and the Wheeling Nailers. Between them, over 53 games, the left-handed shooter tallied 28 points.
In a statement from Kirk MacDonald, head coach of the Reading Royals, he said of the team’s latest signing, “Ryan Scarfo is a high-character player with extensive AHL experience, who will help fill out our top-six forward group. With our aggressive offensive mindset we expect Ryan to build on his offensive output while continuing to be one of the best-two-way centers in our league.”