Reign Dominate Gulls for Sixth-Straight Win
AHL Ontario Reign

Reign Dominate Gulls for Sixth-Straight Win

Published on April 17, 2026 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Ontario Reign News Release


The Ontario Reign (47-19-3-2) defeated the San Diego Gulls (33-26-8-4) Friday night by a final score of 4-1 in front of 9,461 fans at Toyota Arena. The Reign will host the Abbotsford Canucks Saturday night at 6 p.m. for the final game of the regular season.

The Reign stretched their win streak to six games overall while picking up their seventh consecutive at Toyota Arena having collected a point in 13 straight home games. Nikita Alexandrov (2G, 1A), Kenny Connors (1G, 2A), and Martin Chromiak (1G, 2A) all recorded three points playing on the same line while Logan Brown finished with two helpers. Alexandrov's first of the night tied the game with less than a minute to go in the first period while Chromiak scored his team leading 12th power-play goal and 28th overall 3:11 into the second giving the Reign a 2-1 lead. Alexandrov notched his second of the game in the back half of the second period while Connors scored a five-on-three power-play tally about midway through the third period.

The score was tied up at 1-1 through the opening 20 minutes of play with San Diego holding the edge in shots 13-10. Cal Burke would give the Gulls a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 9:26 sending a wrist shot by Slukynsky far-side. On a delayed penalty call against San Diego Ontario started up ice as Hampton Slukysnky raced to the bench for the extra attacker. Nikita Alexandrov (15th) found the back of the net in the sequence from Kenny Connors and Martin Chromiak with just 33 seconds left in the frame tying the score at 1-1. Alexandrov drove the puck down the middle of the ice across the blue line and kicked it over to his left for Connors. From there Connors got to the left side of the goal line and fed Alexandrov back-door where he directed the puck over the glove of Damian Clara.

The Reign would find the back of the net twice in the middle frame taking a 3-1 lead into the second intermission. 90 seconds into the stanza Ontario received their first power-play of the game on too many men bench minor against San Diego. Martin Chromiak (28th) gave the Reign their first lead of the night at 3:11 from Alexandrov and Logan Brown on his team leading 12th power-play score. From the right face-off dot Brown fed the puck up to the point for Alexandrov who connected with Chromiak below the left face-off dot. From there Chromiak held onto the puck for a second and then zipped a wrist shot through the legs of Clara making it 2-1. With 6:17 to play in the period Nikita Alexandrov (16th) scored his second of the evening on a setup from Kenny Connors. Connors led a two-on-one down the right wing and just above the right circle he sauced it to Alexandrov driving through the left circle where he beat Clara with a wrist shot short-side. Shots were 13-7 Ontario in the stanza.

The Reign received a five-on-three power-play midway through the third period and Kenny Connors (15th) found the back of the net with 8:03 left in regulation from Logan Brown and Martin Chromiak making it a 4-1 lead when he sent a shot from the high slot low short-side past Clara. Ontario went on to outshoot San Diego 8-4 in the final 20 minutes.

Hampton Slukynsky made 23 saves on 24 shots in the victory while Damian Clara made 27 saves on 31 shots. Ontario went 2-for-5 on the power-play while San Diego was 1-for-4.

Postgame thoughts from Andrew Lord, Martin Chromiak, and Angus Booth.

Lord

On how competitive the Pacific Division is

There's no free nights. Every night, it's really good hockey. Anybody can beat anybody. It'll be interesting to see where everyone falls seeding wise for the first round. Literally anybody can beat anybody and it makes for excellent hockey. I think it makes excellent grounds to develop for our young guys. It's been a hard 71 games for most of the season.

On how important this weekend's games are

They're critical. I think you have to stay dialed in. We're going to have a long enough break as is, we've tried to use our whole roster, get our depth guys in. So good experience for them, and keep our big guns going. I think they're really important, as will be the next week of practice. It's just a mindset. It's a pride thing, being a competitor, no matter what the situation is.

Chromiak

On the team's effort tonight

I think we started really well, but then at the end of the first or second half in the first I think it wasn't our best. I think after the intermission, we regrouped. Then I think from the second, everyone was going and we were having good shifts after shifts. And it showed on the scoreboard.

On building off of last year with his confidence on the power play

I think obviously you always want to be on the first power play. You want to be the guy who has the pressure on you. I was really happy when I got the chance last year. I was playing with some veteran guys that helped me get the confidence and feel comfortable there. I just tried to take it to this year. I think from beginning, it's been great. I think our whole unit has done an amazing job throughout the whole year.

Booth

On playing at home

There's no question that we like playing at home. The fans bring us so much energy, and it's always easy to get up for a game at home. Also, more analytically, the line matches, I think make a big difference in it also. But yeah, the fans play a huge part.

On having an A on his jersey tonight

It was a huge honor. Coach Lord told me yesterday and yeah just very special to wear that for such a cool organization. There's a lot of other good players, older players who could have had it.

1st 2nd 3rd FINAL

ONT 1 2 1 4

SD 1 0 0 1

Shots PP

ONT 31 2/5

SD 24 1/4

Three Stars -

1. Nikita Alexandrov (ONT)

2. Martin Chromiak (ONT)

3. Kenny Connors (ONT)

W: Slukynsky

L: Clara

For all the latest news and updates, download the official Reign Mobile App and follow the Reign on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Check out the Ontario Reign Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from April 17, 2026


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.

OurSports Central