Ontario Reign Drop Preseason Opener to Condors 3-1

ONTARIO, Calif. – The Ontario Reign (0-1-0-0), four-time Pacific Division Champions and proud affiliate of the NHL’s 2014 Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings and Winnipeg Jets, fell by a 3-1 score to the Bakersfield Condors (2-0-0-0) in preseason action in front of a crowd of 5,915 on Saturday at Citizens Business Bank Arena.

Ontario raced out to an early shot advantage in the first period, but Condors goaltender Frans Tuohimaa kept Bakersfield in the match, denying Reign forward Geoff Walker on a one-timer opportunity in the SLOT off a great feed from Rocco Carzo. Goaltender Joe Cannata was tested later in the frame for Ontario, robbing Francis Lemieux on a breakaway with a glove save.

Both teams got on the board in the second period, as Jim McKenzie gave the Condors the lead at 2:29, deflecting Greg Brown’s point shot for a power-play goal, with Nick Wheeler receiving the secondary assist.

Less than a minute later, while the Reign were still on the penalty kill, Carzo leveled the score for the Reign with a shorthanded breakaway. Carzo used his speed and hands to fake out Tuohimma, then buried the puck stick-side at 3:45 to make it 1-1.

In the third, the Condors would go ahead with a goal from Sebastien Sylvestre, who gathered his own rebound following a shot from the blueline by Josh Currie at 0:29. Currie would grab the insurance goal for Bakersfield at 14:18, with Jonathan Lessard and Francis Verreault-Paul assisting.

Cannata took the loss for Ontario with 21 saves; Tuohimaa made 36 saves in the win for the Condors.

Three Stars:

1. BAK – Frans Tuohimaa

2. BAK – Josh Currie

3. ONT – Rocco Carzo

Click here to view the box score.

Reign Drops:

On Opening Night, the Reign will raise its fourth Pacific Division title banner before taking on the Idaho Steelheads on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. The Reign will also celebrate the LA Kings WINNING the Stanley Cup with Affiliate Night. Ontario players will wear specialty LA Kings-inspired jerseys, sponsored by the University of La Verne, which will be auctioned off immediately after the game to benefit the University’s student SCHOLARSHIPS. The first 5,000 fans to enter will receive an LA Kings Championship Team Photo and everyone in attendance will receive a season magnet schedule, compliments of Ignite Advertising.