Reign Down Barracuda, 6-1
AHL Ontario Reign

Reign Down Barracuda, 6-1

Published on October 31, 2025 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Ontario Reign News Release


The Ontario Reign (5-2-1-0) defeated the San Jose Barracuda (2-5-0-0) Friday night by a final score of 6-1 in front of 1,037 fans at Tech CU Arena. The Reign and Barracuda will meet Saturday, Nov. 1 in San Jose at 6 p.m.

Jack Hughes, Jakub Dvořák, and Kenny Connors all scored their first professional goals while Koehn Ziemmer notched his first professional point finishing with two assists. The Reign erupted offensively in the second period scoring four goals in a span of 7:48 taking a 4-1 lead with 6:13 to play in the frame.

The score was 1-1 after the first period with the Barracuda outshooting the Reign 14-7. Ontario took the lead when Taylor Ward (4th) found the back of the net at 4:48 from Martin Chromiak and Glenn Gawdin. In the left corner Gawdin fed Chromiak behind the cage. From there he passed to Ward below the left circle. Skarek made the initial save but left a rebound for Ward at the top of the crease where he sent it home on the far side. Ontario went to the penalty box at 17:37 and 32 seconds into the man advantage Oliver Wahlstrom tied the game. Luca Cagnoi had the initial shot from the point with White cashing in on a rebound.

The Reign potted four goals in a span of 7:48 capturing a 5-1 lead through 40 minutes of play outshooting the Barracuda 12-6. The flurry of goals started with Aatu Jämsen (3rd) making it 2-1 from Koehn Ziemmer and Angus Booth at 6:59. From the center of the point Booth swung the puck to Ziemmer at the top of the right circle where he sent a wrist shot towards the cage with Jämsen deflecting it home at the top of the crease. Samuel Bolduc (4th) increased the lead to 3-1 just 3:28 later on an unassisted breakaway score where he split both Barracuda defenders and went fore-hand back-hand through the legs of Skarek. Then 2:13 later Jack Hughes (1st) potted his first pro goal from Ziemmer and Booth enhancing the lead to 4-1. Booth from the left point blasted the puck off the crossbar. It popped out to Ziemmer inside the right circle where he sent a backhander off the mid-section of Skarek then the rebound found Hughes at the right post. Jakub Dvořák (1st) notched his first pro goal just 67 seconds later from Ward and Bolduc. From the right point Bolduc dropped the puck back for Ward who swung behind the defender. Once Ward got to the right face-off dot he fed Dvořák far circle where he sent a wrist shot into the top left corner.

Kenny Connors (1st) pushed the lead to 6-1 at 4:32 on an unassisted strike. He capitalized on a loose puck in the high slot and sent a shot through the legs of Carriere.

Erik Portillo made 36 saves on 37 shots in the win. Jakub Skarek suffered the loss and was pulled after allowing four goals on 17 shots in 32:38. Gabriel Carriere allowed two goals on six shots in 27:20 of relief.

Postgame reactions from Andrew Lord and Jack Hughes.

Lord

Bounce back win after Wednesday loss

Yeah, we'll take it. Obviously, it was, was good. I thought we came out of the gates. Well, things got away from us. A little later in the first they had some good, good looks. They obviously tie it up with that power play goal. They were pretty direct. And then you got to really like the resiliency they tried to push on us. And I thought the guys really stood in there and initiated with contact and got pucks behind, and then a nice little flurry of goals there in the second which was great that we sought out, you know, pretty solidly in the third.

Play from goaltender Erik Portillo

He was rock solid. Even in the first he had some really, you know, they had some good looks, and that's what he does. And yeah, he looked, looked like he was seeing it, reacting really well, and definitely a big piece of the win.

Four goal second period

Yeah I mean, I think that stretch of stretch of play was solid as well. We took care of the puck, we did things the right way, and then we had a bit of room. I thought the skill took over. And some of the nicer goals of the year for our group.

Doing it by committee and Jack Hughes

Yeah I mean, and by committee tonight, which is excellent. Obviously, all the different goal scores, a lot of the first you like to see that. But yeah, as far as hughesey, he has literally been getting better every game. His last game was really good. I thought today tonight, more the same as was his line. And, yeah, it was, it was good. It was, you know, it's a big help. And you can have some contribution from some of the depth guys.

Koehn Ziemmer

Yeah, he's, you know, he's got the vision, he's got the shot, obviously, some of the play making ability. And I thought he was around the puck a fair amount tonight, and the three of them with jams in there did a good job.

Taylor Ward

Yeah, he's a driver for us, obviously, early on there get us going on the board, and then beautiful four on four play. He hangs on to it, protects it a bit, you know, really nice play overall, and he's been excellent.

Kenny Connors

Yeah. I mean, it's, it's nice, like you said, he just plays the right way night in and night out, their line is such an identity line for us. Had some great minutes, you know, throughout tonight's game. And always nice to see players like that get rewarded.

More on bounce back win

I think, you know, I think the guys got back at it. I thought we played more consistently tonight. I thought, you know, we took away some of their identity, some of their skill, and we were hard to play for the most part. And, you know, we'll take it and another big one tomorrow.

Feisty game

Yeah. I mean, it was just scrum after Scrum. A lot of a lot of face washing. It was nice to see, you know, boldly stepped up there for Guttman. I think it was. And then, you know, I think Dvorak and corral both had their mitts off ready to go. So yeah, Team toughness. It was good.

Playing San Jose three times in five days

I mean, with the game, with how aggressive it was tonight and the after the whistle stuff. Yeah, I think it brings the animosity up a level that being said, you know, I think we did a good job of finding the line, you know, not getting into you know, we obviously took some penalties, but, you know, I think we stayed the course with our emotions and played the right way, which was good, and we're definitely gonna need more of that tomorrow.

Hughes

On scoring his first pro goal

Yeah, it felt good. Nice play all around four guys. So definitely felt good.

Bounce back win

Yeah, I think we play them three times in a row two more. So it was definitely good to bounce back, and hopefully we get a little more momentum going into the next.

Feisty game

Yeah, I think that's that was a big thing that Lord said in between periods was going to be disciplined. They're going to take penalties. They're going to get in their face, whatever. So stick up for your teammates, but don't do anything stupid. And think we did that.

Four goal second period

I mean, it always helps. I think it helps the bench too. It helps everyone. You get a little more momentum, a little more energy, and just keep rolling, keep rolling. Lines keep going out. So yeah, I think did a good job of capitalizing our opportunities, and that's huge.

First pro road trip

Yeah, it's fun. I like being on the road. It's fun going out to dinner, stay in a hotel. Some you get cleaned up after, which is, which is always a nice thing, but it's been good so far. I think we got another one coming up too. So I like it.

Check out the Ontario Reign Statistics

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



American Hockey League Stories from October 31, 2025


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