ONTARIO, Ca – A small town in San Bernardino County has been clamoring for another professional sports franchise for quite sometime. Beginning in October 18, 2009, the ECHL’s newest team, the Ontario Reign, will drop the puck at the brand new Citizens Bank Arena in Ontario, Ca. Led by former Reading Royals (ECHL)Head Coach Karl Taylor, the Reign are beginning their inaugural season in the ECHL and will be a minor league affiliate for the Los Angeles Kings. As with the Kings, Ontario will be owned by AEG. The Texas Wildcatters moved to Ontario after poor attendance forced the team to move. After spending the last three seasons with the Royals,Taylor heads out west to begin a new chapter of his coaching resume. Taylor led the Royals to a combined 112-82-22 record and two Kelly Cup playoff appearances. Last season, the Royals faced off against eventual Kelly Cup winner Cincinnati in the North Division finals. The Reign will be very strong in the nets with Jeff Zatkoff being assigned by the Kings. He will be battling Kellen Briggs who was traded to Ontario for future considerations from the Idaho Steelheads (ECHL). Zatkoff is a Kings prospect beginning his first professional season with the Reign. Zatkoff was a third round draft pick (47th overall) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and finished his college career last season at Miami (Ohio) University in the CCHA going 55-21-5 in 82 games. In his junior season, Zatkoff posted a 27-8-1 record with a 1.72 goals against average (GAA) and three shutouts. Briggs in his second season after debuting last season with the Steelheads. He completed the season 17-11-2 with a 2.36 GAA. Briggs played his college hockey at the University of Minnesota. Ontario will be a mix of veterans and rookies on defense and will rely on David Walker who was the first player to sign with the club. Walker comes to Ontario by way of the CHL’s Laredo Bucks where he amassed 88 penalty minutes in 38 games. He also a one goal and 14 assists for 15 points. The Reign were able to get a pair of defenseman off the waiver wire prior to the start of the season: Chad Sterling and Shawn Germain. Sterling is in his eighth season and most recently helped the Cincinnati Cyclones capture the Kelley Cup last season. He finished the season with two goals and 20 assists for 22 points. Germain spent the last two season with Royals under coach Taylor who is very familiar with Germain’s style of play and leadership. He played in 133 games during his tenure in Reading, where he finished with four goals and 21 assists. Offensively for Ontario, look for Centers Jon Francisco and Dusty Collins to add some punch to a defensively minded club. Francisco is also familiar with Taylor’s style of play and will be a good offensive leader. Francisco played 3 seasons under Taylor and finished with 36 goals and 47 assists for 83 points in a 140 games. Collins played last season with the Arizona Sundogs (CHL), and helped the club capture the President’s Cup. Collins played in 63 games and scored 23 goals with 30 assists for 53 points. Collins was a 5th round pick (163 overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry draft for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Look for the Reign to have a high work ethic and be competitive even though they are beginning their first season. Taylor will have this team ready to play night in and night out. The team will be very physical, but watching the development of up and coming goalie Jeff Zatkoff may be worth coming out to see Ontario’s newest professional team. Contact the author at Andy.Villanueva@prohockeynews.com
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