The Reading Royals re-signed defenseman Mike Chen and signed defenseman Trevor Thurston to one-year contracts through the 2023-24 season on Monday.
Mike Chen is five foot eight and weighs 170 pounds. The 30-year-old from Rockville, Maryland, had four points (4 assists), and 22 penalty minutes in 42 games for the Royals last season. In addition, he played four playoff games.
This will be Chen’s third season in Reading. In two seasons, he has 11 points (1 goal, 10 assists), and 43 penalty minutes in 76 games. In addition, he had one point (1 assist) in 13 playoff games. Chen also played two seasons for the South Carolina Stingrays 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists), and 38 penalty minutes in 55 games.
Before Reading, Chen played for the Pensacola Ice Flyers (SPHL) in the 2020-21 season with 14 points (3 goals, 11 assists), and 26 penalty minutes in 31 games.
In the 2017-18 season, Chen was with the Knoxville Ice Bears (SPHL) with 29 points (6 goals, 23 assists), and 43 penalty minutes in 46 games. In addition, he had two points (2 assists), and two penalty minutes in four SPHL playoff games. He was named to the SPHL All-Rookie Team.
Collegiately, Chen played one season at Concordia University-Wisconsin in 2013 with three points (3 assists), and eight penalty minutes in 17 games for the Falcons.
Then, he transferred to Salem State College (2014-16) with 29 points (11 goals, 18 assists), and 39 penalty minutes in 70 games for the Vikings. He is a two-time NCAA III (MASCAC) Champion.
Trevor Thurston is six foot two and weighs 201 pounds. The 21-year-old from North Delta, British Columbia, split the 2022-23 season with the Cape Breton Eagles (QMJHL), Merritt Centennials (BCHL), and the Prince Albert Raiders (WHL).
In Cape Breton, he had 21 points (9 goals, 12 assists), and 89 penalty minutes in 48 games. In addition, played four games with 18 penalty minutes. In Merritt, he earned three points (2 goals, 1 assist), and two penalty minutes in two games, and in Prince Albert had two points (1 goal, 1 assist), and four penalty minutes in three games.
Thurston played five seasons in the WHL with the Kamloops Blazers, Lethbridge Hurricanes, and Prince Albert Raiders with 27 points (13 goals, 14 assists), and 215 penalty minutes in 107 games. In addition, he played three playoff games with six penalty minutes.
