ECHL Ontario Reign

Playoff Game Preview - Ontario Reign vs. Utah Grizzlies

Published on April 2, 2013 under ECHL (ECHL)
Ontario Reign News Release


Reign Game - 1 | Reign Home Game - 1

ECHL Game - 1

Arena: Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, CA

Date: Tuesday, Apr. 2, 2013

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

Video Webcast: America ONE Networks

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

TONIGHT:

The Ontario Reign open the 2013 Kelly Cup Playoffs against the Utah Grizzlies, a team they have never seen in the post-season. This is Ontario's third playoff appearance in five years of existence; Utah's seventh in an eight year existence.

During the 2012-13 season, the Reign came out ahead of the Grizzlies with a 3-1-0-1 record against the Western Conference club.

HOW THEY RANK:

By the end of the 2012-13 season the Reign had earned their third Division Title, ranked second in the Western Conference, and second overall in the league - trailing the league-leading Alaska Aces by just seven points - with a club-high 99 points. The Grizzlies finished fourth in the Mountain Division, seventh in the Western Conference, and 18th overall in the league.

GOING THE DISTANCE:

The Reign have yet to break through the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. In the 2009 Playoffs, Ontario lost to the Stockton Thunder in Game 7; they wouldn't make another post-season appearance until Head Coach Jason Christie stepped behind the bench in 2011-12. Again, the Reign didn't make it past the first round losing in Game 5 against the Idaho Steelheads in a physical and controversial series. A late-season trade of Steven Tarasuk to the Steelheads and a major injury incurred by Kyle Kraemer saw the Reign knocked out by the seventh seed.

The Grizzlies have yet to win a Kelly Cup, but in 2007-08 made it to the Conference Finals under the direction of Jason Christie - the farthest he has seen a team go in the post-season.

COACH DÉJÀ VU:

Jason Christie spent three years behind the bench for the Utah Grizzlies taking them to the playoffs twice. The first year, 2005-06, the Grizzlies fell in Round 2, the next playoff appearance in 2007-08 brought the Grizzlies to the fourth round.

PLAYOFF SERIES:

4/2: ONT vs UTA

4/3: ONT vs UTA

4/5: ONT at UTA

4/6: ONT at UTA

4/9: ONT at UTA

4/12: ONT vs UTA

4/13: ONT vs UTA

2012-13 SEASON SERIES:

12/28 - ONT @ UTA....L, 4-3 SO

12/29 - ONT @ UTA....W, 6-5 OT

1/4 - ONT vs UTA....W, 5-2

2/1 - ONT vs UTA....W, 6-5 SO

2/2 - ONT vs UTA....L, 0-3

STREAKS:

Ebert: 3-game assist (3a)

Lamoureux: 3-game assist (3a)

Register: 3-game point (1g, 2a)

Clune: 1-game goal (1g)

Stretch: 1-game assist (1a)

Hauswirth: 1-game goal (1g)

Burt: 1-game goal (1g)

Estrada: 1-game assist (1a)

Couture: 1-game assist (1a)

Condon: 2-game win (2-0-0-0)

REIGN TRACKER:

Sheahan, Brock: leads in post-season appearances with 35

Estrada: leads with 13 post-season pts (4g, 9a)

Walker: has most Reign post-season games played with 7

LEADERS:

Points: Kraemer 71

Goals: Kraemer 30

Assists: Kraemer 41

+/-: Lamoureux +30

PIM: Couture 218

SOG: Kraemer 218

NEXT GAME:

The Reign will play Game 2 against the Grizzlies at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Wednesday, Apr. 3 at 7:00 p.m. Click HERE to buy tickets to Wednesday's game.

Check out the Ontario Reign Statistics

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ECHL Stories from April 2, 2013


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