Game Preview - Ontario Reign at Idaho Steelheads
December 26, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Ontario Reign News Release
Ontario Reign at Idaho Steelheads
Reign Game - 30 | Reign Away Game - 17 | ECHL Game - 285
Arena: CenturyLink Arena, Boise, Idaho
Date: Friday, Dec. 26, 2014
Time: 6:10 p.m. (PST)
Watch & Listen: ECHL.TV, powered by NeuLion
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TONIGHT:
The Ontario Reign (14-10-2-4) play the first of a two-game set on the road against the Idaho Steelheads (17-10-1-1). This is the sixth meeting of the season between these two clubs. The Steelheads took a 3-2 lead in the season series with a 6-1 victory at Ontario on Dec. 17; both of the wins that Ontario has earned against Idaho this season have come on the road at CenturyLink Arena.
CANNATA REASSIGNED TO ONTARIO:
The Reign will have some company in Boise, as goaltender Joe Cannata was reassigned to the club on Friday from the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League by the Vancouver Canucks. Cannata appeared in one game with the Comets during his AHL recall, while in nine games for Ontario this season, the netminder leads the ECHL with a 1.77 goals-against average and .934 save percentage.
FREIBERGS ON FIRE SINCE RETURN:
After earning his first two career AHL points with a pair of assists on Friday for the St. John's IceCaps, Ralfs Freibergs was promptly reassigned to Ontario, and hasn't skipped a beat, picking up three helpers in two games since rejoining the Reign.
OLKINUORA POISED TO SET NEW CAREER-HIGH:
Should Jussi Olkinuora get the start against Idaho today, it will mark his 14th consecutive start, which will set a new career-high. So far in 13 straight starts this season, the goalie has gone 6-4-2-1 and has posted an impressive .907 save percentage. During his 13 straight starts last year, Olkinuora went 8-5-0-0, with a .894 save percentage.
AND THEN THERE WERE TWO:
With Norm Ezekiel being forced to sit out of Sunday's game due to suspension, only Maxim Kitsyn and Nolan Julseth-White have played in every game for the Reign so far this season. Kitsyn currently leads the club in goal scoring with 11, while Julseth-White recently set a career-best four-game point streak (1g-3a) and has earned an alternate captain's "A" with the continued absence of Jeff May and Everett Sheen.
14-15 HEAD-to-HEAD
10/25 - ONT vs IDH L, 1-4
11/19 - ONT at IDH L, 3-4
11/20 - ONT at IDH W, 4-1
11/22 - ONT at IDH W, 2-1
12/17 - ONT vs IDH L, 1-6
12/26 - ONT at IDH
12/27 - ONT at IDH
01/16 - ONT at IDH
01/17 - ONT at IDH
01/28 - ONT vs IDH
01/30 - ONT vs IDH
01/31 - ONT vs IDH
REIGN TRACKER:
- Derek Couture - 5 goals from passing Kyle Kraemer for Reign all-time goals mark (83)
- Tristan King - 3 points from 150 career pro points
- Jeff May - 5 points from 100 career pro points
- Maxim Kitsyn - 2 points from 50 career Reign points
- Judd Blackwater - 3-game point streak (3g-3a)
- Ralfs Freibergs - 2-game assist streak (3a)
REIGN RECORDS:
Current streak: 0-1-0-0
Last 5 games: 2-2-1-0
Last 10 games: 4-3-2-1
In Dec: 4-2-2-1
Home: 6-4-2-1
Away: 8-6-0-2
Vs. Pacific Div.: 14-10-2-3
Vs. Central Div.: 0-0-0-0
Vs. Western Conf.: 14-10-2-3
Power-play: 18/110 (16.4%)
Penalty kill: 21/129 (83.7%)
RECENT MOVES:
12/26 - ADD Cannata (reassigned from Utica [AHL] by Vancouver [NHL])
12/25 - DEL Parent (loaned to Team Canada [Spengler Cup])
12/20 - ADD Freibergs (reassigned from St. John's [AHL])
12/20 - ADD Parent (returned from St. John's [AHL])
12/19 - DEL Walker (placed on reserve)
12/19 - ADD DiPaolo (loaned from Springfield [AHL])
12/18 - DEL Parent (loaned to St. John's [AHL])
12/17 - ADD Bigos (activated from injured reserve)
12/17 - ADD McLay (released as EBUG, signed contract)
12/17 - ADD Kopitar (activated from injured reserve)
12/16 - DEL Sheen (placed on reserve)
12/16 - DEL Spurgeon (suspended by team)
12/15 - DEL Register (loaned to Chicago [AHL])
NEXT GAME:
Ontario faces the Idaho Steelheads again on Saturday, Dec. 27 at 6:15 p.m. (PST) at CenturyLink Arena.
Reign Drops :
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!
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