REIGN PREVIEW – Ontario vs. San Diego 10/23

WHO: Ontario Reign (3-0-1) vs. San Diego Gulls (0-2-0)
WHAT: AHL REGULAR SEASON GAME #5
WHEN: Saturday, October 23, @ 6:00 PM (Pacific)
WHERE: Toyota Arena – Ontario, CA
HOW TO FOLLOW: VIDEO: AHLTV – AUDIO – Mixlr – TWITTER: @ontarioreign & @ShafReign

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP: The Ontario Reign look to continue their hot start to the 2021-22 season when they host the San Diego Gulls Saturday night at Toyota Arena. The contest concludes the Reign’s season-opening five-game homestand, which has thus far seen them earn at least a point in each of their previous outings.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Ontario matches up with San Diego at Toyota Arena for the second consecutive Saturday night. The two opened the 2021-22 season against each other one week ago in a game that saw Ontario prevail by a 5-2 score. Tonight’s game is the second meeting of 12 total between the Reign and Gulls this year. San Diego is still looking for its first win of 2021-22, most recently falling to the Stockton Heat by a 6-2 score on Friday.

LAST TIME OUT: Goals in each period from Brayden Burke, Austin Wagner and Austin Strand, along with 25 saves by goaltender Garret Sparks, allowed the Ontario Reign to best the Bakersfield Condors by a final score of 3-2 on Friday night at Toyota Arena. Center Alex Turcotte earned assists on all three of his team’s goals in the victory, while defender Kale Clague posted two helpers from the back end. Each club scored once in a game dominated by special teams, with eight man-advantage chances for Ontario and seven for Bakersfield.

TERRIFIC TURCOTTE: Forward Alex Turcotte was named the No. 1 star of the game Friday after assisting on all three Ontario goals in the team’s victory over Bakersfield. The former No. 5 overall selection in the 2019 NHL Draft for LA is now second on the team in scoring with four points (1g, 3a) in the club’s first four games. A year ago as a rookie Turcotte finished with 21 points in 32 games on six goals and 15 assists for the Reign.

PROVIDING A SPARK: Goaltender Garret Sparks turned out 35 shots to earn a victory in his first appearance with Ontario Friday night. The veteran netminder has a career AHL record of 94-52-10 with a 2.28 goals-against average and a 0.923 save percentage in 164 games during nine seasons. Sparks was also in the AHL’s Pacific Division a year ago when he suited up for 16 games with the Stockton Heat.

SCOUTING THE GULLS: Despite dropping its first two games of the new season, San Diego, which returns many impact players from a year ago, is coming off a third-place finish in the Pacific Division during 2020-2, compiling an overall record of 26-17-1-0 in 44 games. The Gulls return two of their most potent offensive talents from a year ago in Vinni Lettieri and Alex Limoges, who both flourished during the shortened season. Lettieri posted 26 points in 22 games on 14 goals and 12 assists, while Limoges racked up 21 points in 23 games on 11 goals and 10 helpers during his rookie year. Returners on the backend for San Diego include Trevor Carrick, Kodie Curran, and Brendan Guhle. In goal, Olle Eriksson Ek is back for his second season with the Gulls after appearing in 15 contests and earning a .901 save percentage as a rookie. He started the team’s first game in Ontario, while Lukas Dostal made his season debut in a losing effort on Friday.

WATCH WAGS FLY: Forward Austin Wagner had a big night in Ontario’s win Friday, scoring his first goal of the 2021-22 season. The Calgary, Alta. native tallied his 36th professional goal by streaking down the right wing and moving in on goal for a point-blank chance that found the back of the net. Then with the Reign clinging to a one-goal lead in the closing moments of the game, Wagner helped negate two Bakersfield chances, He first deflected an oncoming shot that broke his stick, then seconds later knelt down to a knee and blocked a final opportunity from getting toward his net just before time expired.

BLUELINERS AIDING OFFENSE: After Tuesday’s overtime victory that saw four of the six Reign defensemen register assists, Ontario’s back end was at it again on Friday, contributing on the offensive end in a big way. Lloydminster, Alta. native Kale Clague posted a pair of assists and now has points in three straight games, including a helper on Friday’s game-winning goal by defender Austin Strand. Strand’s first tally of the season came at 3:19 of the third period and gave the Reign the insurance they needed to hold on for a win.