ECHL Ontario Reign

Reign Pepper Grizzlies in 3-2 Shootout Win

Published on January 19, 2015 under ECHL (ECHL)
Ontario Reign News Release


WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah - The Ontario Reign (23-11-2-4), four-time Pacific Division Champions and proud affiliate of the NHL's 2014 Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings and Winnipeg Jets, posted a season-high 44 shots on goal on their way to a 3-2 shootout win over the Utah Grizzlies (18-15-4-3) in front of a crowd of 6,383 on Monday afternoon at Maverik Center.

The Reign opened the scoring in the first period while killing a tripping penalty to Rocco Carzo. After Everett Sheen got off a backhand shot that was initially stopped by Ryan Faragher, Gasper Kopitar forced his way into the slot to strip a Grizzlies defender of the puck and jammed it past Faragher at 13:33.

Michael Pelech evened the score for Utah in the second period after he stole the puck in the neutral zone and broke in with Mathieu Aubin in a two-on-one situation, eventually wristing the puck past Jussi Olkinuora at 3:19.

The Grizzlies then went ahead with a power-play goal after Ryan Hayes tipped Jacob Johnston's point shot into the net at 15:59.

Olkinuora later made a toe save on Brandon Yip with only minutes left in the middle frame to keep his team within striking distance.

The Reign tied the game in the third period when Matt Register took a pass from Carzo and let a wrist shot fly through the pads of a screened Faragher at 1:56.

Both teams traded chances through the rest of the frame, but neither club scored during the rest of regulation or the five extra minutes of overtime, necessitating a shootout.

Dennis Brown scored for Ontario in the third round by faking out Faragher and then sliding the puck past the goalie's outstretched leg pad, while Matt White beat Faragher in the fourth round, and Olkinuora denied all four shooters he faced to secure the win for the Reign.

The victory also marked the 500th career head coaching victory for Reign head coach Jason Christie (500-296-101), who began his head coaching career with the Peoria Rivermen in 2000 and has since served as head coach with Utah (2005-08), the Central Hockey League's Bloomington PrairieThunder (2010-11) and Ontario (2011-present).

Olkinuora earned the win with 21 saves; Faragher took the shootout loss with 41 stops.

Three Stars:

1. UTA - Ryan Faragher

2. UTA - Brandon Yip

3. UTA - Ryan Hayes

Reign Drops :

Ontario's next home game on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. against the Idaho Steelheads is a Mountain Mike's Pizza 2-for-1 Wednesday. Stop by your local participating Mountain Mike's Pizza to pick up your 2-for-1 ticket vouchers with any purchase.

Immediately following the game against the Steelheads, fans can meet the Reign players during the Post-Game Player Party at Boston's Restaurant in Rancho Cucamonga, located at 11260 4th Street (at 4th & Milliken, across from the Ontario Mills Mall). Show your ticket stub and receive 15% off your food purchase that night!

The Ontario Reign Stretch Run Plan is back! Fans can now purchase their plans for as little as $45. Each Stretch Run Plans includes a ticket to four pre-selected games, free parking and a free pass to Knott's Berry Farm (valued at $65)!

Check out the Ontario Reign Statistics

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ECHL Stories from January 19, 2015


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