Ontario cools the Heat in overtime

ONTARIO, Calif. – The Ontario Reign (12-10-0-1) came up victorious in overtime against the Pacific Division leading Stockton Heat (14-7-0-3) in a wild back-and-forth game with a final score of 4-3.

Michael Mersch (27) moves the puck away from Andrew Mangiapane (26) – Photo by Jack Lima

The Heat scored the first goal of the night, 2:26 into the first period, when Maruk Hrivik took the puck down the side of the ice on a short-handed breakaway, slipping the puck past Cal Peterson in the net. Hunter Shinkaruk and Andrew Mangiapane were credited with the assists on the goal.

Reign Defenseman Matt Roy(3) checks Spencer Foo into the boards during first period action -photo byou Jack Lima

It wouldn’t be long before the Reign’s Mike Amadio wristed the puck past Jon Gillies in the Heat net for the unassisted goal, only 6:40 into the period.

The score remained tied as the teams went to the first intermission.

Reign goalie Cal Petersen (40) makes a kick save on Marek Hrivik’s (12) backhand shot -photo by Jack Lima

In the second period, the Heat’s Brett Findlay scored, just over three minutes into the period, when he tapped in the puck from just outside the crease. But it wasn’t long before Ontario’s Matt Luff scored the equalizer. As the Reign skated past the blue line, towards the net, Luff received a wristed pass from Brett Sutter on the opposite side, then raced towards the net, beating Gillies stick side for the goal.

Heat goalie Jon Gillies makes a glove save – Photo by Jack Lima

The Reign took their first lead of the night, at 13:08, when Paul LaDue’s long shot, after getting the puck in the Heat defensive faceoff, beat Gillies for a power play goal. Amadio got the assist on the goal. The Heat trailed 3-2 at the intermission.

Heat center Marek Hrivik takes a shot on goal – Photo by Jack Lima

Stockton’s Shinikaruk evened the score again only 1:10 into the third, much to the disappointment of the Reign fans. The Heat worked the puck in and around the net, nearly scoring again, leaving Peterson spralled on the ice more than once. Stockton made twice as many shots against the Reign in the third, but Peterson held fast, forcing the overtime period.

Gillies faced a barage of shots early in the overtime period, coming up solid. But at the 3:39 marker, a loose puck following a shot left Gillies spralled on the ice, allowing Sutter to tap in his fifth goal of the season and the ultimate game winning goal.