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Ontario Reign

Tynan, Frk, Spence honored by AHL as Ontario sets multiple records in 2021-22 season

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At 3.8 goals per game, the Ontario Reign have had the highest-scoring offense in the American Hockey League throughout the 2021-22 season, led by two of the league’s most prolific scorers. As such, it came as no surprise that multiple individuals were recognized with awards this week when the league began handing out hardware.

Both forward TJ Tynan and defenseman Jordan Spence landed on the AHL’s First All-Star Team, while forward Martin Frk was honored as a member of the Second Team. The trio were the first Ontario players named to an all-league team since Peter Budaj was named to the AHL’s First All-Star team during the Reign’s inaugural season in 2015-16. Budaj was also awarded the Baz Bastien Award in 2016, awarded to the league’s top netminder.

“Anytime you have team success, there’s individual success too,” Reign Assistant Coach Chris Hajt said. “All three of them have been a big part of our team. Tynan has just played fantastic and drives so much of our play. Frk has been able to change the course of a game with just one shot and he’s done a lot of really good things along the wall defensively. Jordan, when he was here, played excellent. Great honors for them and we’re all really proud of them. It’s a neat thing when you’re with the group and find out [the news] and you’re able to pass it on. Everyone had big smiles for them, and they deserved it.”

Tynan’s 98 points were the second-most in the league, as he finished behind only Chicago’s Andrew Poturalski, who became the first AHL skater in 12 years to record more than 100 points. His 84 assists finished just one shy of the modern-day AHL record, set by Jason Spezza during the lockout season of 2004-05, as Spezza tallied 85 assists with the Binghamton Senators in his only AHL campaign. Tynan’s total was the third-most in the 86-year history of the league and his 1.58 points-per-game led the league.

Many of Tynan’s assists have been on goals scored by Frk, with the two linemates spending almost all of their ice time alongside each other in both even-strength and power-play situations. In 27 of the 40 instances, Frk has found the back of the net, Tynan has recorded one of the assists, forming the most dynamic, offensive combination in the American Hockey League.

Much of the success Tynan, Frk and Spence had came on the power play, which joined three of its members with leaguewide honors. The Reign as a unit finished at 27.48 percent, the best power-play mark in AHL history over the course of a full season.

It should come as no surprise then that several Ontario players were amongst the league leaders in power-play scoring. Frk ranked tied for second leaguewide with 15 power-play goals, while forward Jaret Anderson-Dolan was also in the league’s Top 10 (12 – T-8th). Tynan was, far and away, the league leader with 46 power-play assists, while Spence led all defensemen and ranked fifth amongst all skaters with 24 power-play assists.

Per AHL Communications, which has statistics dating back to the 2004-05 season, Tynan set a leaguewide record in that span for the most power-play assists in a season, surpassing Andy Delmore of Syracuse (44 – 2005-06).

“That’s impressive, I’m very proud of our players, we all are,” Hajt added. “Everyone has contributed to it and I’m happy for them. They take great pride in what they do, and they’ve been difference-makers for us all year, so we’re looking forward to continued success with it in the playoffs. It’s a great achievement for a group of guys who were obviously able to put the puck in the net an awful lot, so good on them.”

The Reign’s power-play prowess, among other things, helped power a successful season. That success came within two points of setting a franchise record, as they amassed 91 points in total, falling two points short of the 93 collected during the 2015-16 season. Ontario’s 18 regulation losses were the fewest in franchise history, while its 259 goals scored were the most in franchise history.

The team will continue its season, and its pursuit of a Calder Cup, this coming week as the postseason begins at home. The second-seeded Reign will host the seventh-seeded San Diego Gulls in a best-of-three, first-round matchup. All three games will take place at Toyota Arena in Ontario.

Should Ontario advance from the first round, facing them would be a best-of-five series against the second-lowest remaining seed from after the opening round of play. For more details on the AHL’s playoff format and structure – which differs in format from the NHL, though still requires 16 victories to lift the trophy – click here.

Turning it back over to Kings coverage for the remainder of the day today, with notes from today’s Kings practice, in advance of travel to Edmonton, to follow!

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