SAN DIEGO, Calif – For the second straight season, the Ontario Reign (1-0-0-0) opened a new campaign with a shutout victory as goaltender Jack Campbell provided 36 saves in a 2-0 victory over the San Diego Gulls (1-1-0-0) tonight at Valley View 
Casino Center. The Reign defeated the Bakersfield Condors 5-0 to start last season.
Reign forward T.J. Hensick opened the scoring early in the second period on the power play, deflecting a pass from forward Sean Backman between the legs of Gulls netminder Matt Hackett (L, 25 saves on 27 shots) at 2:58. Moments later, forward Michael Mersch gave the Reign a two-goal lead, capitalizing on a 5-on-3 advantage with help from Backman and forward Jonny Brodzinski. Physical play escalated the rest of the frame as Michael Latta and Zach Trotman dropped the gloves with San Diego’s Stu Bickel and Corey Tropp.
With the Gulls pressuring in the offensive zone in the final frame, Campbell provided a period-high 17 saves including a stellar split-save glove stop in the final seconds. The Reign finished the contest 2-for-6 on the power play while the Gulls went 0-for-6.
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