Editing Reading Royals (section)

===2017–2022: Kirk MacDonald era===
The Royals' first season under Kirk MacDonald resulted in a third-place finish in the North Division with a 39–24–9–0 record and 87 points. Reading finished two points behind the [[Adirondack Thunder]] for first place. The [[Manchester Monarchs (ECHL)|Manchester Monarchs]] earned 88 points in the regular season and then swept the Royals in the North Division semifinals. The Monarchs won the first two games of the series in double overtime despite goaltender John Muse making 54 saves in game one and 53 in game two. In game three, Muse registered 52 saves, giving the three-highest postseason save performances from a Reading netminder in a four-day span.{{Citation needed|date=May 2018}} Forward Matt Willows lead the team with 32 goals and 74 points before he announced his retirement after the season. Muse split the season between Reading and the [[Lehigh Valley Phantoms]] of the AHL and tied for a league-high .931 save percentage. The Royals took 658 penalty minutes, the fewest in ECHL history.{{Citation needed|date=May 2018}}

During the [[2018–19 ECHL season|2018–19 season]], the Royals' owner Jack Gulati agreed to sell the team back to the Berks County Convention Center Authority (BCCCA), the previous ownership and the owners of Santander Arena, on June 30, 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wfmz.com/news/berks/berks-county-convention-center-authority-buys-reading-royals/987240673 |title=Reading Royals will remain in Reading after team is sold |work=WFMZ |date=January 23, 2019}}</ref> The Royals concluded the 2018–19 season with a six-game win streak and eight-game point streak, finishing with 78 points and a 34–28–4–6 record, but were one point behind the [[Brampton Beast]] for the final playoff spot in the North Division. Reading had the most points of any team to miss the [[2019 Kelly Cup playoffs]]. The Royals used eight goaltenders through the season, tied for the most in team history. Jamie Phillips went 8–2–0–1 in his final 12 games of the season after being reassigned to Reading at the trade deadline. Chris McCarthy had a career-best 54 assists and 74 points (third in league). On May 9, 2019, the Royals re-signed head coach Kirk McDonald to a two-year contract extension.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.readingeagle.com/sports/article/reading-royals-extend-head-coach-kirk-macdonalds-contract|title=Reading Royals extend head coach Kirk MacDonald's contract|last=Guarente|first=Jason|date=2019-05-09|website=Reading Eagle|language=en|access-date=2019-05-09}}</ref> The Royals and Flyers also renewed their affiliation though at least the 2019–20 season with a 2020–21 renewal option.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/flyers/news/flyers-renew-echl-affiliation-with-royals/c-308991292 |title=Flyers renew ECHL affiliation with Royals |website=Philadelphia Flyers |date=September 9, 2019}}</ref>

Due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the Royals voluntarily suspended operations for the [[2020–21 ECHL season]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.echl.com/en/news/2020/11/north-division-elects-suspension-of-play-for-2020-21-season |title=NORTH DIVISION ELECTS SUSPENSION OF PLAY FOR 2020-21 SEASON |website= [[ECHL]] |date=November 18, 2020 |access-date=November 18, 2020}}</ref> The team returned for the [[2021–22 ECHL season|2021–22 season]] with another renewed affiliation with the Flyers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.royalshockey.com/staff/news/2021/royals-philadelphia-flyers-announce-extension-of-affiliation-agreement |title=ROYALS, PHILADELPHIA FLYERS ANNOUNCE EXTENSION OF AFFILIATION |website=Reading Royals |date=August 16, 2021}}</ref>

On June 13, 2022, MacDonald announced he would resign as head coach.
<ref>{{cite web | url=https://sports.yahoo.com/reading-royals-coach-kirk-macdonald-035300774.html | title=Reading Royals coach Kirk MacDonald resigns &#91;updated&#93; | date=14 June 2022 }}</ref>