Fagemo scores twice, adds assist in AHL All-Star Challenge event

While representing the Ontario Reign in the 2025 AHL All-Star Challenge round-robin tournament, Samuel Fagemo put up three points on Monday night at Acrisure Arena as the Pacific Division went 1-1-1 from their three 10-minute games.

Fagemo scored in two of the games, but the team of 12 Pacific Division players fell short of qualifying for the championship contest, which was won by the Atlantic Division.

“It was a great experience and a lot of fun,” Fagemo said. “It was a nice spot, we had a nice hotel and really good weather. So yeah, it was a great experience, and a good memory for sure.

Game 1 of Monday’s event saw Fagemo help his team to a 3-2 win over the North Division, scoring their second goal of the contest at 4:31 on a breakaway with a patient forehand move. He ended with two shots on goal and had a plus-one rating.

🚨SAMMY SNEAKS IT IN FOR A PACIFIC DIVISION GOAL!!!🚨 pic.twitter.com/D6jbmu9SoI

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) February 4, 2025

In the Pacific’s second game, Fagemo scored a goal and added a primary assist on a strike by Bakersfield’s Matt Savoie in a span of 23 seconds to get the team out of a 3-1 hole and even the game. The Atlantic Division went on to win 4-3 in a 3-round shootout on goals by Olle Lycksell and John Leonard.

🚨THAT’S✌️FOR OUR ALL-STAR🚨🤩 pic.twitter.com/iyrirgdphk

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) February 4, 2025

Game three for Fagemo and the Pacific was a do-or-die contest, with the winner of the matchup against the Central going to the championship game. Despite taking a 2-0 lead in the first period, the Pacific group went on to allow five consecutive tallies and were eliminated.

“I thought it was good,” Fagemo said after the event. “A couple goals there was fun and a good apple there. I think the first couple shifts were pretty weird, but then I got used to it. It slowly got better and better.”

Fagemo was coached by former Reign captain Brett Sutter, who is now an Assistant Coach with the Calgary Wranglers. Calgary had the best record in the Pacific Division on Jan. 1, giving them the right to send a representative from their staff to be behind the bench.

That experience made the night even more meaningful for the fifth-year forward.

“It’s special for sure,” Fagemo said. “My first two years here he was our captain and I learned a lot from him so it’s definitely a special feeling to have him as a coach and a lot of fun.”

For Sutter, he was back to seeing Fagemo’s shot on his side of the ice, instead of competing against him as he has for the past three seasons since he joined the Wranglers. He had his whole family join him at the event and was able to bring his three children down to the bench on Sunday night during the Skills Competition.

“It’s really cool,” Sutter said before his team took the ice. “He’s such a such a good person. It was cool to have the kids on the bench with him last night because they remembered him, and they’ve grown a foot in half since the last time that he’s seen them. Pretty special to get to share it with them.”

Sutter was also a participant in the event in 2018 when he represented Ontario at the competition, which was held in Utica, N.Y.

“It was really exciting to do it as a player, so to kind of go full circle and have a chance to do it as a coach is pretty cool. I’m excited to represent the team, and they’re putting on a great event.”

Fagemo was cheered on by many Reign fans in attendance over the two-day event who made the drive to Coachella Valley. He made sure it make it worth their while by signing autographs and posing for photos as much as he could throughout the showcase.

“It means so much to me,” Fagemo said of the fan support he’s received. “The Reign fans have been great for the last five years I’ve been here. It’s super nice to see them again here and show their support.”