Reign Sign Four More To Team; Season-Opening Roster Announced
October 15, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Ontario Reign News Release
ONTARIO, Calif. - The Ontario Reign of the ECHL, proud affiliate of the NHL Los Angeles Kings and the AHL Manchester Monarchs, announced today that they have signed C Tim Kraus, LW Todd Jackson, G John Murray and RW Itan Chavira (She-VAIR-uh, EE-thawn).The Reign also announced their 2008-09 Season-Opening Roster.
Kraus, 21, joins the Reign roster after playing the past five seasons in the WHL, most recently with the Regina Pats. While with the Pats in 2007-08, Kraus scored 15 goals, assisted on 44 others (59 points) and tallied 86 peanalty minutes. That season Kraus led the Pats in assists and ranked second amongst his teammates in points.
Prior to Regina, the 6-foot 1-inch, 197-pound, Garden Grove, Calif. native suited up with the Vancouver Giants, scoring 162 points (60g,102a) and 216 PIM in 244 games. In 2005-06 Kraus won the WHL Championship with the Giants and ended the season with a +32 rating.
Jackson, 27, skated in 53 games with the Newcastle Vipers (EIHL) in 2007-08. While with the Vipers, he netted 17 goals and assisted on 34 others (51 points). He spent his college career with the University of Maine, playing in 161 games in four seasons (2000-04), scoring 45 goals and netting 54 assists (99 points). While at Maine, the 5-foot 10-inch, 180-pound, left-winger was named to the NCAA-East Second All-American Team in 2003-04, as well as being named HE-Best Defensive Forward and selected to the HE-Second All-Star Team.
Jackson spent three seasons in the ECHL (2004-07), spending two seasons with the Toledo Storm and one season (2006-07) with the Phoenix Roadrunners. He finished with 44 goals, 65 assists for 109 points in his time in the ECHL. The Cortland, NY native was selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the eighth round (#251 overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
Murray, 21, appeared in 31 games in 2007-08 with the Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) before signing with the Reading Royals marking his professional debut. While with the Frontenacs, Murray compiled a record of 12-15-1, 3.78 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage. Murray suited up for eight games between the pipes for Reading and was named the RBK Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week for Mar. 17-23, 2008, when he posted a 2-0-0 record, notching one shutout, a .985 save percentage and a 0.50 goals-against average.
He spent the 2006-07 season in the OHL with the Kitchener Rangers where he played in 55 games finishing the season with a 40-9-3 record, ranking second in the OHL with 40 wins and third in goals-against average (2.58). He tied for first in the OHL with 5 shutouts and was named the Rangers most valuable player.
Chavira, 20, joins the Reign roster as the only player stemming from the Reign Free Agent Camp held September 27-28. The 5-foot 8-inch, Duarte, Calif. resident suited up in 52 games with the Yarmouth Mariners (MJAHL) in 2007-08 and completed the season netting 41 goals, assisting on 44 others (85 points) and tallying 52 penalty minutes. In 2006-07 Chavira played nine games with the Ohio Junior Blue Jackets scoring 2 points (1g,1a) with 6 penalty minutes.
2008-09 Season-Opening Roster:
#2 Chad Starling (D)
#5 Shawn Germain (D)
#6 Darren McMillan (D)
#7 Todd Jackson (LW)
#9 Itan Chavira (RW) (3-Day IR)
#10 Ryan MacGregor (LW)
#11 Chris Curran (LW)
#13 Jon Francisco (C)
#14 Dusty Collins (C)
#18 Tim Kraus (C)
#19 Brad Mehalko (RW)
#20 Geoff Walker (RW)
#21 Ryan Bowness (RW)
#22 Dan Knapp (D)
#24 Mike Howe (RW)
#27 David Walker (D)
#31 John Murray (G)
#36 Jeff Zatkoff (G)
#55 Andrew Martens (D)
#34 Kellen Briggs (G) (30-Day IR)
#44 Ryan Card (D) (7-Day IR)
REIGN DROPS:
Opening Night is only 10 days away! Season tickets and mini-plans for the Ontario Reign's Inaugural season presented by the Mission Inn are on sale now and offer an affordable entertainment option for families and residents of the Inland Empire. For more information about Reign season tickets or mini-plans contact the Reign office at (909) 941-PUCK (7825) or visit www.ontarioreign.com.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from October 15, 2008
- Reign Sign Four More To Team; Season-Opening Roster Announced - Ontario Reign
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- 2008-09 Season Opening Roster Announced - Stockton Thunder
- Wranglers Announce Season Opening Roster - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Steelheads Announce Opening Day Roster - Idaho Steelheads
- Chiefs Announce Season-Opening Roster - Johnstown Chiefs
- Royals Announce Opening Day Roster - Reading Royals
- Duchesne, Zarb Reassigned To Mississippi From Phantoms - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- RoadRunners Announce Opening Day Roster - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Blades make adjustments to roster - Florida Everblades
- Season Opens Friday - Elmira Jackals
- Salmon Kings Announce Goldie As Team Captain - Victoria Salmon Kings
- River City Ale Works To Host Meet The Nailers Night Thursday - Wheeling Nailers
- Checkers bring in Messier and McMorrow - Charlotte Checkers
- Sea Wolves, Philadelphia Flyers Announce Affiliation For 2008-09 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Senior Hockey League Registration Ends October 24th - Wheeling Nailers
- Bombers Ink Radio Deal - Dayton Bombers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
