McCarty, Kucharski join Royals

Reading, Pa. - The Reading Royals, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Philadelphia Flyers and American Hockey League's Lehigh Valley Phantoms, announced that forward Mason McCarty and goalie Jacob Kucharski have signed with the club for the 2023-24 season.McCarty, 26, signs with the Royals for his third professional season. The Blackie, Alberta native played 15 games for Rapid City in his first professional season in 2018-19 recording 10 points (6g-4a) and 18 penalty minutes. McCarty attended Acadia University from 2019-22 before returning to the ECHL with Kalamazoo prior for the 2022-23 season. McCarty registered 25 points (13g-12a) and 26 penalty minutes in 43 games with the K-Wings. Prior to his professional career, McCarty played in the Western Hockey League for the Red Deer Rebels and Saskatoon Blades. McCarty totaled 157 points (85g-72a) and 223 penalty minutes in 225 career WHL regular-season games while adding four points (1g-3a) in six career WHL playoff games and served as an alternate captain for the Rebels in the 2017-18 season. Kucharski signs with the Royals for his first full professional season. The Erie, Pennsylvania native was selected in the seventh round (197th overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes. Kucharski made his professional debut with the Chicago Wolves in the American Hockey League on March 18, 2023, stopping four shots in 13 minutes of playing time.The 23-year-old attended Providence College, American International College and the University of Nebraska-Omaha, compiling a career record of 25-16-5 with four shutouts, a 2.44 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage. He won two-consecutive NCAA Atlantic Hockey Associations titles with AIC in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. With the Yellow Jackets in the 2021-22 championship season, Kucharski was the NCAA Atlantic Hockey Goaltender of the Year and was selected to the NCAA American Hockey Third All-Conference Team.Additionally, Kucharski attended the Carolina Hurricanes 2018 and 2019 NHL Development Camps. He played in the United States Hockey League for the Omaha Lancers (2018-19) and Des Moines Buccaneers (2017-19), as well as the National American Hockey League for the Austin Bruins (2016-17).