Reign Clipped by Eagles 5-2
December 21, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Ontario Reign News Release
ONTARIO, Calif. - The Ontario Reign (14-10-2-3), four-time Pacific Division Champions and proud affiliate of the NHL's 2014 Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings and Winnipeg Jets, rounded out their three-game weekend series with a 5-2 loss to the Colorado Eagles (16-10-0-0) in front of a crowd of 7,595 on Sunday afternoon at Citizens Business Bank Arena.
Colorado opened the scoring less than five minutes into the first period, as Colin Joe joined the attack and took a pass from Trent Daavettila, lifting the puck past the glove of Jussi Olkinuora at 5:14.
Further along in the frame, Mike DiPaolo fed the puck ahead to Maxim Kitsyn, who broke into the offensive zone and unleashed a slap shot off the rush to beat Clarke Saunders and tie the score for Ontario at 10:26.
The Eagles pulled ahead in the second period at the 7:35 mark when Derek Rodwell broke in on Olkinuora and snapped a shot that snuck underneath the goalie's blocker.
Colorado extended its lead to two goals with a power-play score from Collin Bowman, when the Eagles blueliner received a pass from Brett Kulak and blasted a shot from the left side that trickled through the pads of Olkinuora at 13:19.
The Eagles took advantage of a five-on-three situation early in the third period, as Nemec picked the top left corner of the net at 1:21 off a feed from Daavettila.
Ontario answered when Ralfs Freibergs spun away from an oncoming forward at the offensive blue line and threw the puck into the slot, allowing Gasper Kopitar to fire a shot through the legs of Saunders at 11:22.
The Reign pulled Olkinuora for an extra attacker with nearly three minutes remaining, and although Ontario possessed the puck for most of the remaining time, the Eagles eventually added an empty-net goal from Brock Nixon at 19:59 to close out the game.
Olkinuora took the loss with 25 saves; Saunders picked up the win with 20 stops.
Three Stars:
1. COL - Derek Rodwell
2. COL - Collin Bowman
3. ONT - Maxim Kitsyn
Reign Drops :
Don't forget: Wednesday, Dec. 24 is the very last day Reign fans have to purchase the Ontario Reign Holiday Plan for the 2014-15 season! The Holiday Plan starts at $39, and features tickets to four games, including our Stanley Cup Night on Friday, Jan. 30 against the Idaho Steelheads. Each Holiday Plan also includes free parking and your choice of a gift card to New York Grill (Sold Out), a free race at Fast Lap of Ontario or a round of free Tiki Golf at Laser Island (all gifts valued at $25). CLICK HERE to learn more about the Ontario Reign Holiday Plan.
On Sunday, Jan. 4, the Reign will host the Stockton Thunder at 3 p.m. The first 5,000 fans that enter Citizens Business Bank Arena will receive a Reign Dance Team Poster, compliments of the Ontario Reign Dance Team.
Immediately following the game against the Thunder, fans can meet the Reign players at Boston's Restaurant in Fontana, located at 16927 Sierra Lakes Pkwy off 210 Fwy and Sierra. Show your ticket stub and receive 15% off your food purchase that night!
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from December 21, 2014
- Mallards Triumph 6-1 over the Beast - Brampton Beast
- Tyler Maxwell Leads Thunder over Steelheads 4-2 - Stockton Thunder
- Reign Clipped by Eagles 5-2 - Ontario Reign
- Rush Sweep Road Trip in Shootout - Rapid City Rush
- Down 3-0, IceMen Fight Back to Earn a Point - Evansville IceMen
- Oilers Drop Fifth Straight in Penalty-Filled Affair against Americans - Tulsa Oilers
- Mallards Roll over Beast - Quad City Mallards
- Gladiators Scorch Solar Bears, 5-1 - Atlanta Gladiators
- ECHL Transactions - December 21 - ECHL
- ECHL Announces Fines, Suspension - ECHL
- Game Preview - Ontario Reign vs. Colorado Eagles - Ontario Reign
- Game Day Capsule: Rapid City at Wichita - Wichita Thunder
- Kids Take over in Rubber Match against Idaho - Stockton Thunder
- Reichard Loaned to AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins - Indy Fuel
- Gladiators Game Preview: Solar Bears at Gladiators - Atlanta Gladiators
- ECHL Today - December 21 - ECHL
- Coffman, Bussieres and Syvret earn multi point games in series finale - Alaska Aces
- Dramatic Late-Tying Goal Propels Condors to 4-3 Win - Bakersfield Condors
- Simpson Shines as Thunder Sink Steelheads 3-1 - Stockton Thunder
- Royals Win Another One Goal Squeaker in Evansville, 4-3 - Reading Royals
- Reign Power Past Eagles 6-1 - Ontario Reign
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.