ECHL Ontario Reign

Reign Drop First Weekend Game 5-4 in Overtime

January 18, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Ontario Reign News Release


ONTARIO, Calif. - The Ontario Reign (25-6-2-3), back-to-back Pacific Division Champions and proud affiliate of the NHL's Los Angeles Kings and Winnipeg Jets, suffered an overtime loss at home when the Colorado Eagles (20-10-4-2) beat them 5-4 before a crowd of 6,911 at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Friday night.

Art Bidlevskii netted his first goal in a Reign sweater just 2:45 into the game. The action was in the Colorado end and Brett Beebe sent the puck to Matt Clune at the left point; Clune passed it along the blue line to Bidlevkii who launched it past Marc Cheverie. Jake Newton put the Reign up 2-0 at 5:57 with an effortless wristshot from the point that beat Cheverie's glove.

The Eagles responded quickly to get within one goal scoring their first of the night at the 6:19 mark of the first period. Daniel Johnston crashed the net and pushed the puck past Jussi Olkinuora in his first Reign start. At 7:57 Ontario marked their third goal of the game with another first of the season; this time the score came off the stick of Matt Clune. Clune was tied up just outside the left circle and his shot bounced over the pads of Cheverie putting the Reign up 3-1.

Newton struck again with the help of White. The defenseman faked a slapshot, carried the puck deeper into the Eagles zone and wristed a quick shot in. At 10:21, the Eagles scored their second of the night with a quick goal from Luke Fulghum.

Clune squared off against Colorado forward A.J. Hau at 14:27, completing a Gordie Howe Hat Trick for the second-year pro defenseman.

In the second period the Reign lost the puck and watched the Eagles take advantage of the situation as Kevin Ulanski skated right in on a breakaway and fired a shot top shelf past Olkinuora at 6:06. With just 3:29 left in the second period the puck was loose in front of Olkinuora and went straight out to Greg Gardner who was wide open to wrist it in on the power play.

The third period was scoreless and after 60 minutes of play the teams were tied 4-4. At the 2:35 mark of the sudden-death overtime period, Alex Hudson collected a Reign turnover at the Eagles blue line and moved the puck up to Ulanski who flew into the Reign end, feinted to the left, and backhanded the puck up and over the pads of Olkinuora to win the game for Colorado.

Olkinuora took the loss with 33 saves; Cheverie earned the win with 25 saves. Three Stars: 1. COL - Kevin Ulanski 2. ONT - Jake Newton 3. COL - Luke Fulghum

Click here to view the box score. Reign Drops: The Ontario Reign are back at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Saturday, Jan. 18 for Red Cross Jersey Night. The team will don specialty jerseys designed by Rancho Cucamonga native Christine Suzukawa which will be auctioned off immediately following the game to benefit the American Red Cross Inland Empire chapter. This is also the first-ever Ontario Reign umbrella giveaway sponsored by the Ontario Reign Dance Team! Arrive early because the first 5,000 fans through the gates will receive an umbrella. If you don't already have them, get your tickets for this game now!

Check out the Ontario Reign Statistics



ECHL Stories from January 18, 2014


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