Royals Add Former Goaltender To Wall Of Honor

The Reading Royals have added a new member to their Wall of Honor.

The club announced Monday that former goaltender and 2013 Kelly Cup Champion and Playoffs MVP Riley Gill will be inducted into the Royals Wall of Honor during a special pregame ceremony, presented by D&B Construction, on Friday, Apr. 11 when the Royals host the Worcester Railers at Santander Arena.

"It’s an incredible honor to be inducted into the Reading Royals wall of honor with so many other great players," Gill, who currently resides in Allen, Texas, said in a statement. "The Kelly Cup championship with the Royals will always be one of the greatest memories of my life. I was very fortunate to play with some incredible players in my time with Reading. I can’t wait to share this moment with my family, coaches, friends and fans."

The 40-year-old Gill will become the 19th honored member of the Royals Wall of Honor and fourth goaltender among this distinguished group of Royals greats, joining fellow netminders Cody Rudkowsky (2003-06), Jonathan Quick (2007-08) and Terry Denike (2003-04 & 2007-08).

Gill played a part of two of his eight professional seasons with the Royals. He registered a 29-15-3 record, 1.88 goals-against average, .935 save-percentage and three shutouts in 50 regular-season games.

"We are thrilled to welcome Riley into the Royals Wall of Honor," said David Farrar, Team President of the Royals. "As a player who has given full devotion to this organization and fan base with a Kelly Cup title, it's great to be able to recognize Riley on April 11, and for years to come on the Wall of Honor."

Among all-time Royals goaltenders in regular season games, the native of Northfield, Minnesota ranks second in goals-against average (2.13) and third in save-percentage (.927%), while tying for sixth in shutouts (three) and ninth in both wins (29) and games played (50).

A part of the Royals' 2013 and 2014 Kelly Cup Playoff runs, the Western Michigan University alum also accumulated a 14-5-1 record, 2.49 GAA and .917 SP in 20 playoff career games as a Royal.

Gill holds the franchise record for most playoff wins (14) and shutouts (four), while ranking second in Kelly Cup Playoffs games played at 20, behind only Matt Dalton (2009-10, 2010-11).

Gill's additional accolades as a Royal include two ECHL Goaltender of the Week selections (March 11-17 & March 18-24, 2013), which came in the same month in which he received his lone ECHL Goaltender of the Month honor (March, 2013) with Reading.

Gill logged a 147-66-20 record, 2.54 GAA, 918 SP and 18 shutouts in 245 ECHL regular-season games across eight campaigns between Kalamazoo (2009-12), Victoria (2010-11), Reading (2012-14) and Allen (2014-18).

Gill has won three Kelly Cups, one with Reading (2013) and two with Allen (2015 & 2016), as well as garnered four ECHL Goaltender of the Month honors (Oct. 2010-11, Feb., 2011-12, March 2012-13, Dec. 2016-17), five ECHL Goaltender of the Week selections and was named the 2016-17 ECHL Goaltender of the Year, where he hoisted the league's best save percentage (.935). He was named to the First All-Star Team.

Gill had his number (#30) retired by Allen on Dec. 19, 2020.

In ECHL history, Gill's 21 career shutouts rank second most all-time, and two 30-or-more win seasons tie for second most by an ECHL goaltender.

Gill added a 2-1-0 record, 2.81 GAA, .915 SV% in 11 American Hockey League (AHL) career games between Worcester (2010-11), Bridgeport (2010-11) and Hershey (2013-14), as well as a 25-10-3 record, .918 SP, 2.43 GAA and five shutouts in 38 Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) career games with Louisiana (2012-13).

After his playing career, Gill became a Goaltending Coach at Allen High School in Allen.

The Wall of Honor project was undertaken to recognize persons who have made distinct contributions to the success of the Royals’ organization. Inductees are honored in a permanent display located on the concourse of Santander Arena.

Gill will be the 19th inductee into the Wall of Honor, which consists of former General Manager Gordon Kaye, Athletic Trainer Brian Grogesky, Equipment Manager Pat Noecker, broadcasters Mark Thompson and Pat Richards, the ‘Ten Year Season Ticket Holders’, as well as former teammates of Gill and player greats in franchise history including Ryan Cruthers, Jon Francisco, Cody Rudkowsky, Reagan Rome, Jonathan Quick, Terry Denike, Ryan Flynn, Chris Bala, Yannick Tifu, Malcolm MacMillan, Olivier Labelle and Nick Luukko.

Gill currently resides in Allen with his wife, Angie, and sons Jackson, nine, and Hudson, six. The couple is expecting their third child.