Royals bring back Johnson, Malinowski

Actoon photos of Kenny Johnson and Troy Malinowski of the Reading 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 defensemen Kenny Johnson and Tony Malinowski have re-signed with the club for the 2024-25 season.

Johnson concluded his first full professional season in Reading last season after joining the Royals on Nov. 4, 2023. The Ann Arbor, Michigan native totaled 11 points (1g-10a) in 46 games with the Royals during the 2023-24 season. He has accumulated 12 points (2g-10a) in 53 professional career games.

The 26-year-old played four seasons of college hockey at Penn State University prior to his professional career. He registered five points (1g-4a) in 40 games with the Nittany Lions and was a part of the program's Big 10 championship in the 2019-20 season. Johnson played junior hockey in the British Columbia Hockey League where he was bestowed the Most Inspirational Player Award with the Victoria Grizzlies in 2018-19, as well as the Fan Favorite and Humanitarian Award Winner with the Penticton Vee's in 2017-18. He is the younger brother of veteran NHL defenseman Jack Johnson.

Malinowski signed with the Royals to begin his professional career on March 21, 2024. A native of Clarkston, Michigan, Malinowski played nine games with the Royals during the 2023-24 season after five seasons at Minnesota State University-Mankato. With the Mavericks during the 2023-24 season, Malinowski registered four assists, four penalty minutes and a +2 rating in 13 games.

The 24-year-old totaled 14 points (2g-12a), 18 penalty minutes and a +18 rating in 77 career NCAA games. Malinowski was a part of the Mavericks' 2020-21 and 2021-22 Frozen Four runs, including a NCAA National Championship appearance against Denver where they were runner up for the title.

Additionally, Malinowski played two seasons in the United States Hockey League from 2017-19 where he totaled 17 points (2g-15a), 49 penalty minutes and a +9 rating in 88 career games between the Tri-City Storm and the Des Moines Buccaneers.