ECHL Ontario Reign

Game Preview - Ontario Reign at Stockton Thunder

October 23, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Ontario Reign News Release


Reign Game - 2 | Reign Road Game - 1 | ECHL Game - 20

Arena: Stockton Arena, Stockton, CA

Date: Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013

Time: 7:00 p.m. (PT)

Video Webcast: America ONE Networks

Audio Webcast: Jesse Liebman - Pre-game show at 6:40 p.m.

TONIGHT:

The defending Pacific Division Champion Ontario Reign (1-0-0-0) will play the Stockton Thunder (1-0-0-0) for the first time this season, and for the team's first road game of 2013-14. Last year the Reign were 6-3-1-2 against the Thunder, 22-11-1-2 on the road, and 3-2-1-0 against the Thunder at Stockton Arena. Ontario beat Stockton by 16 points and took the Pacific Division title, but the Thunder outlasted every team in the West earning the Western Conference title and a trip to the 2013 Kelly Cup finals.

GRITTY CAPTAINS:

Ontario's Derek Couture and Stockton's Garet Hunt return as their team's captains for 2013-14. Hunt is in his sixth season with the Thunder and Couture is beginning his third with the Reign, his second year as captain. Through 2012-13 Couture tallied 218 penalty minutes in 52 games played, Hunt racked up 235 penalty minutes in 70 games as the league-leader for the second time in his ECHL career. Couture and Hunt have only dropped the gloves twice since Couture's first season with the Reign, and have yet to fight since he was named Ontario's captain but with their histories, it's only a matter of time.

FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT:

This season the Reign meet no other team as often as they meet the Thunder which totals 14 games between October and April. With both teams coming off their best seasons yet, in terms of postseason runs, they are sure to rekindle the physical division rivalry the fans have grown to expect and love.

GAME 1 IN THE BOOKS:

The Reign and the Thunder both began 2013-14 with big shutout wins at home. Ontario ousted Bakersfield 3-0 with 26 shots on goal and 15 saves, and the Thunder blew out the Colorado Eagles 5-0 with 16 shots on goal and 29 saves.

BETWEEN THE PIPES:

With Ontario's secondary affiliation with the Winnipeg Jets, the Reign have received two NHL prospect goaltenders with Michael Hutchinson from Winnipeg and Mathias Niederberger Ontario's primary affiliate, Los Angeles.

SEASON SERIES:

10/23 - ONT at STK

11/15 - ONT at STK

11/27 - ONT vs STK

11/29 - ONT at STK

12/20 - ONT vs STK

12/21 - ONT at STK

12/22 - ONT vs STK

1/15 - ONT vs STK

1/24 - ONT vs STK

1/26 - ONT at STK

2/5 - ONT vs STK

3/29 - ONT vs STK

4/2 - ONT at STK

4/9 - ONT vs STK

REIGN TRACKER:

- Calla - 2 games to 100 Reign appearances, 2 points to 50 Reign pts

- Hutchinson - 50th pro win 10/19/13

- Couture - 17 PIM to 1,000 pro PIMs

RECENT MOVES:

10/22 - ADD Bidlevskii (activated from reserve)

10/22 - DEL Newton (placed on reserve)

10/19 - ADD Roach (assigned from Manchester)

10/18 - DEL Bidlevskii (placed on reserve)

10/18 - DEL Klotz (released from contract)

10/18 - ADD Bidlevskii (claimed from BAK)

10/17 - ADD Couture (activated from reserve)

10/17 - DEL Clune (placed on reserve)

10/17 - DEL Springer (placed on 21-day IR)

10/16 - DEL Couture (placed on reserve)

10/16 - DEL Sheahan (released from contract)

NEXT GAME:

The Reign will return to Citizens Business Bank Arena on Friday, Oct. 25 to face the Florida Everblades for the first time in team history.

Reign Drops:

The Ontario Reign return home on Friday, Oct. 25 when they host the Florida Everblades for a 7 p.m. game. This will be the first of a two-game home series against the Everblades who is the only Eastern Conference team to travel to Ontario this season. ATTENTION Reign Season Ticket Holders: check your ticket booklets for your $5 Student deal voucher fo r this game - students with a valid high school or college ID can get a $5 ticket for any seat (excluding Glass and Center Ice seats). Check the voucher for other terms of use.

Check out the Ontario Reign Statistics



ECHL Stories from October 23, 2013


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