Reading, PA – The Reading Royals of the ECHL, affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, today announced that goaltender Mark Dekanich has been loaned by the Flyers from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League to the Royals. In separate transactions, forward Ryan Penny and defenseman Miles Liberati have been released from the Phantoms’ Training Camp Roster and have been added to Reading’s Training Camp Roster.
Please note that the on-ice practice time for the Royals’ Training Camp on Thursday, October 6, has been re-scheduled to 11:00 am – 12:30 pm at Santander Arena in Reading.
Mark Dekanich
Dekanich (6’2/193) (30), who hails from North Vancouver, British Columbia, will be entering his ninth season of pro. Last year, in thirty-five regular season games with the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL, he compiled a record of 20-9-2-2. His 2.16 goals against average was fourth best in the ECHL and his .925 save percentage was second best in the league. Two of his twenty wins for the Stingrays last season came by shutout. Dekanich, who was signed to an AHL deal in the Washington Capitals system last season, also played one game for the Hershey Bears of the AHL, a 5-3 loss to the Binghamton Senators on December 27, 2015. He closed out last season by playing ten playoff games for the Stingrays, going 5-3-1 (1.69 gaa / .922 save%) with two of his post-season victories coming by shutout, as South Carolina advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals before getting knocked off in seven games by the Wheeling Nailers.
A fifth round pick of the Nashville Predators in 2006, Dekanich has played the majority of his pro career in the AHL, compiling an overall record of 82-55-13 in 163 AHL games and registering a composite goals against average of 2.39 with a .915 save percentage. He’s had several exceptional seasons in the AHL, including 2010-11 when he won 23 games with the Milwaukee Admirals, led the league with a .931 save percentage, and was third in the league with a 2.02 goals against average. That season, he also made his NHL debut as a member of the Predators, when he came on in substitution of Anders Lindback on December 18, 2010, playing 50 minutes and making 22 saves in a no-decision against the Los Angeles Kings. Before returning to North America last year, Dekanich spent a couple of seasons in the KHL, which included compiling a .936 save percentage in 27 games for Zagreb Medvescak in 2013-14.
Prior to turning pro, Dekanich had a spectacular collegiate run at Colgate University, which included receiving the Ken Dryden Award as the Goaltender of the Year in the ECACHL in his sophomore season. A three-time honoree as his team’s Defensive Player of the Year, Dekanich closed out his collegiate career with a cascade of awards in his senior season, including a selection to the Lowe’s Senior CLASS All-Senior All-America First Team, the All-ECAC Hockey Third Team, and the Colgate University awards for Male Athlete of the Year, Director of Athletics Award, and Coach’s Award. That year, he set the Colgate single season record for games (41) and minutes (2388:53) played, saves (1,043) and shutouts (6). He closed his career with the Raiders as the all-time school leader in games played (118), Saves (3,071), save percentage (.923), shutouts (16) and ties (16).
Season Sixteen of “Hometown Hockey” kicks off for the Royals on Saturday, October 15, (7:00 pm) when the Elmira Jackals visit Santander Arena. Season Tickets and individual game tickets for the Royals’ 2016-17 ECHL season are currently available. Call 610-898-7825 for more information or log onto www.royalshockey.com.