GAMEDAY – ONTARIO VS. MILWAUKEE, 10/17

It’s another game day in Ontario! The Milwaukee Admirals in town for the only time this season……which naturally reminds me of Wayne’s World.

WHO: Ontario Reign (1-1-1-1) vs. Milwaukee Admirals (3-0-1-0)
WHAT: AHL REGULAR SEASON GAME
WHEN: Wednesday, October 17, @ 7:00 PM
WHERE: Citizens Business Bank Arena – Ontario, CA
HOW TO FOLLOW: VIDEO: AHLTV – AUDIO – Mixlr – TWITTER: @ontarioreign & @reigninsider

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP: The Ontario Reign conclude a three-game homestand as they host the Milwaukee Admirals for the lone meeting of the season between the two teams in California. Ontario enters tonight’s game with points in three straight contests, extended on Saturday in a 6-5 shootout loss against the San Diego Gulls.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Tonight’s matchup is one of two games this season between Ontario and Milwaukee. The two teams also met twice last season, as the Reign swept the pair of game with victories in both buildings. Forward Philippe Maillet amassed three points (2-1-3) across the two matchups, while netminder Cal Petersen was 2-0-0 with a .917 save percentage and a 2.50 goals against average versus Milwaukee. Admiral’s center Emil Pettersson led the visitors with two points (1-1-2) from the two head-to-head meetings. Cal Petersen was the first goaltender off at morning skate for the second straight day. Defensemen Chaz Reddekopp and Austin Strand were on late after morning skate, along with Cole Kehler. Matt Luff did participate in morning skate while forward Zack Mitchell did not.

OPEN MIKEY NIGHT: Reign forward Mikey Eyssimont also amassed a goal and an assist in Saturday’s shootout loss, including what was, at the time, the game-tying goal early in the second period. Eyssimont now has four points (2-2-4) from four games played this season and finds himself tied for 12th in the AHL in rookie scoring. Eyssimont is also tied with four other Ontario players for third on the team in scoring and is one of just two Reign skaters, along with Rempal, with multiple goals scored.

OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN: Ontario saw its first milestone of the season on Saturday as forward Brett Sutter appeared in his 750th career AHL regular-season game. Sutter became the 50th player in AHL history to reach the mark and is the active games played leader in the AHL. In the contest, Sutter collected a pair of assists to bring his point total to six (1-5-6) on the season, good for second on the Reign roster in total scoring.

DYNAMIC DEFENSEMEN: The Reign feature two of the AHL’s top 15 scorers on defense through two weekends (Kurtis MacDermid and Kale Clague, four points each). MacDermid scored his first goal of the 2018-19 season on Saturday, as he scored the game-tying goal midway through the third period. Clague scored his first career professional goal on Friday against Stockton, as a part of a three-point output from the rookie blueliner.

ON THE MOVE: Forward Sheldon Rempal has earned his first NHL recall to the Kings this season following his hot start to the 2018-19 campaign. Rempal collected multiple points in three straight games in the AHL and had a career-best three points (2-1-3) on Friday against Stockton. Rempal leads all Reign skaters with four goals and eight points this season and sits atop the AHL leaderboard in both categories amongst first-year players. Overall, Rempal ranks tied for second leaguewide in goals and third in total points.

GOALS, GOALS, GOALS: Ontario is one of three teams in the AHL, along with Toronto and San Diego, to average both four or more goals scored and goals against per game. The Reign have tallied 16 times through four games, while they have conceded 20 goals, ranking inside the Top eight in both categories. Ontario is also the league leader in both first period goals scored (9 – Tied with Hartford) and goals allowed (12 – Tied with Toronto).

GRAND CENTRAL DIVISION: Tonight’s meeting with Milwaukee is Ontario’s first game of the season against an opponent from the Central Division. The Reign will square off against five teams from the Central – Milwaukee, Grand Rapids, Texas, San Antonio and Iowa – compiling 12 total games. Ontario posted a 7-4-1 record against teams in the Central Division last season, including a 5-1 mark at Citizens Business Bank Arena.