Former Nanook hockey defenseman, Reading Royals win Kelly Cup
May 30, 2013
Chris Brooks
907-474-6805
Former Alaska defenseman Bryant Molle (2007-11) and his Reading Royals claimed the 2013 ECHL Kelly Cup championship with as it cruised to a 6-0 road win Saturday night against the Stockton Thunder, to win the best-of-seven series four games to one.
It was the first league title in franchise history for the affiliate of the National Hockey League's Washington Capitals and the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears.
The Anchorage native appeared in all five games of the finals for the Royals and finished with a plus-five rating and one assist. In 54 regular-season contests, Molle dished out nine assists and had a plus-18 rating.
“A championship is what every player competes for every year,” Alaska head coach Dallas Ferguson said. “Bryant is a heart and soul person and I could not be happier for him and his teammates. It's a long, hard grind and takes a tremendous amount of work ethic, commitment and sacrifice to be the last team standing.”
During his four-year, 141-game career with the Nanooks, Molle, who served as an alternate captain as a senior, accrued five goals and 14 assists, to go with 138 blocks. He was named CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2011 and was also a Lowe's All-Senior All-American Second Team member.
Prior to this season in Reading, he spent the 2011-12 season in the Central Hockey League with the Fort Wayne Komets, where he tallied one goal, five helpers and a plus-23 rating in 60 games. At the conclusion of his collegiate career, Molle signed a professional contract with the Alaska Aces of the ECHL and appeared in two games with a plus-three rating.
Molle and the rest of the Royals will return to Pennsylvania and will celebrate the victory with all of Reading during a victory parade and championship celebration on Wed., May 29 beginning at 6 p.m. ET.
For more information, contact Chris Brooks , media relations assistant, at cpbrooks@alaska.edu.