ECHL: Reading Royals Claim Ryan Orgel

The Reading Royals have claimed defenseman Ryan Orgel off waivers from the Maine Mariners. Orgel, 29, joins his fourth ECHL team this season as he’s put up a goal and seven assists for eight points in 23 games with the Adirondack Thunder, South Carolina Stingrays, and Maine Mariners. This is a solid signing for the Royals, who could use a depth defenseman after Ben Meehan was called up to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms earlier today. He also has two goals and four assists for six points in 14 games with the Knoxville Ice Bears in the SPHL.

The Los Angeles, California, native has bounced around the ECHL playing for eight different teams. Over the course of his 143 games in the ECHL, he’s put up eight goals and 39 assists for 47 points. Orgel had two goals and an assist for three points in five games during the 2022-23 season with the Thunder. He’s also played parts of two seasons in the SPHL, where he had four goals and 16 assists for 20 points in 34 games with the Pensacola Ice Flyers and Knoxville Ice Bears.

Prior to going pro, Orgel spent four seasons in the NCAA with the University of Denver and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. In 27 NCAA games, he had five goals and eight assists for 13 points. All 13 of his points came with the Pointers.