Purpura re-signs with Royals

Action photo of Vinnie Purpura 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 goaltender Vinnie Purpura has re-signed with the club for the 2025-26 season.

Purpura, 26, set career-bests in goals-against average (2.49) and save percentage (.922) to compliment an 11-6-5 record across 24 appearances during the 2024-25 season - his first campaign in Reading and second-full season of his professional career. In 53 pro career games, all in the ECHL, he has an overall record of 28-10-9 with one shutout, a 2.70 goals-against average and a save percentage of .914.

As a rookie in 2023-24, he appeared in 25 games for the Adirondack Thunder where he posted a 15-4-4 record, 2.78 goals-against average and .908 save percentage.

Purpura posted a 12-34-1 record, 3.38 goals-against-average and .894 save-percentage in 53 career collegiate appearances between parts of two seasons at Boston University (2018-20) and three seasons at Long Island University (2020-23). Purpura earned LIU's hockey program's first-ever victory against ranked opponent, making 32 saves in 3-2 win vs. No. 12 Ohio State University on Nov. 25, 2022.

He spent the 2018-19 season in the United States Hockey League with the Omaha Lancers and the Youngstown Phantoms to conclude his junior hockey career. Additionally, Purpura played two seasons in the North American Hockey League for the Johnstown Tomahawks (2016-18).