ECHL: Reading Royals Sign Chris McCarthy

Originally posted on Inside The Rink
By Armand Klisivitch | Last updated Jan 9, 2026 8:39 PM ET

The Reading Royals have announced that they’ve signed forward Chris McCarthy to an ECHL contract. McCarthy, 34, last played during the 2019-20 season, where he had two assists in three games with the South Carolina Stingrays. He would add five assists in 26 AHL games with the Hershey Bears. McCarthy is in the lineup for tonight’s game vs Maine Mariners. He is currently fourth in franchise histroy in goals (61) and points (180). McCarthy is currently a hockey skills coach at Elite Edge where he is also the co-owner and founder.

The franchise's 4th-highest scorer in goals (61) and points (180), Chris McCarthy, has been signed to a Standard Player Contract (SPC).

Grab your ️'s to see the Co-Owner/Hockey Trainer at Elite Edge and former Royal play tonight… pic.twitter.com/wGsYRmcG6I
— Reading Royals (@ReadingRoyals) January 9, 2026

McCarthy Career Stats

The Collegeville, Pennsylvania, native has played seven years of professional hockey at the AHL and ECHL levels. In 247 games with the Greenville Road Warriors, Reading Royals, and South Carolina Stingrays, he’s put up 76 goals and 145 assists for 221 points. He would add two goals and nine assists for 11 points in 10 Kelly Cup Playoff games. In 2019, he was named to the ECHL Second All-Star Team. At the AHL level, he has 10 goals and 26 assists for 36 points in 113 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack, Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and Hershey Bears. McCarthy had two goals in nine games during the 2019 Calder Cup Playoffs with the Bears.

Prior to going pro, McCarthy played five seasons at the University of Vermont, where he put up 46 goals and 68 assists for 114 points in 150 games. In 2013, he won the Hockey East Sportsmanship Award and the following year he was named to the Hockey East Second All-Star Team.

This article first appeared on Inside The Rink and was syndicated with permission.

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