ECHL: Reading Royals Add Victor Hadfield and Jordan Simoneau

The Reading Royals have announced that they’ve signed defenseman Victor Hadfield and forward Jordan Simoneau for the 2025-26 season. Reading now has six defenseman, nine forwards, and a goaltender signed for next season.

Victor Hadfield

Hadfield,24, saw action in just 11 games last season with the Indy Fuel, where he put up three assists. The Oakville, Ontario, native is entering his fifth season in the ECHL as he’s spent time with the South Carolina Stingrays, Jacksonville Icemen, and Indy Fuel. He’s put up nine goals and 25 assists for 34 points in 122 games. In eight career Kelly Cup Playoff games, he has one assist. The 6’0, 179lb defenseman will look to solidify his spot on the Royals blueline during training camp.

“We are happy to make Victor a Royal,” stated Anthony Peters, Head Coach & General Manager. “He skates extremely well which is something we are looking for in all of our defence. He has some familiarity with some of our players already which will help with our team and culture early on.”
Head Coach Anthony Peters on the signing of Hadfield (via Reading Royals Press Release)

Prior to playing in the ECHL, Hadfield spent three seasons in the OHL with the Barrie Colts. In 124 games with the Colts, he would put up 10 goals and 23 assists for 33 points in 124 games. He would also see action in five OHL playoff games. Hadfield would make his professional debut during the 2020-21 season, playing in four games with the Manitoba Moose in the AHL.

Jordan Simoneau

Simoneau, 26, spent last year in the SPHL with the Evansville Thunderbolts, where he put up five goals and seven assists for 12 points along with 103 PIMS in 42 games. He would also play in five games during the SPHL Playoffs as the Thunderbolts won the 2025 President’s Cup. Simoneau made his SPHL debut at the end of the 2023-24 season with Evansville, where he had a goal and an assist along with 25 PIMs in seven games. The 6’5, 229lb forward will bring physicality to the Royals’ bottom six.

“Jordan is a player that continually keeps getting better every year,” stated Peters. “He has a large presence and the ability to wear teams down. Our fans are going to appreciate the way he plays.”
Head Coach Anthony Peters on the signing of Simoneau

Prior to playing in the SPHL, the Tisdale, Saskatchewan, native spent his junior career in the SJHL with the Nipawin Hawks. In his three seasons with the Hawks, he would put up 45 goals and 48 assists for 93 points along with 369 PIMs in 147 SJHL games. During his final year in Nipawin, he led the team in PIMS. He would add five goals and five assists for 10 points in 25 playoff games and won an SJHL Championship with the Hawks in 2018. Two years later, Simoneau would then take the NCAA route, spending three seasons at the DIII level with Marian University. In 71 games with the Knights, he had 23 goals and 19 assists for 42 points along with 169 PIMs. During the 2022-23 season, he would lead all of DIII with 76 PIMs in 25 games.