ONTARIO, Calif. – The Ontario Reign (6-3), four-time ECHL Pacific Division Champions and proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s 2014 Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings and Winnipeg Jets, were led by Matt White’s hat trick en route to a 6-2 win over the Utah Grizzlies (4-4) in front of a crowd of 2,860 on Monday evening at Citizens Business Bank Arena to take a 2-0 series lead in the Pacific Division Finals.
White gave Ontario an early lead just 1:39 into the first period, as the forward split the Grizzlies defense after taking a pass from Tristan King in the neutral zone and roofed a shot past Igor Bobkov. 
Garry Nunn gave Ontario a two-goal lead on a delayed penalty to Utah, as he took a pass from King at the half-wall and rifled a shot past Bobkov’s blocker at 12:32.
Ontario converted on the power play when Matt Register’s one-timer from the point was redirected by Rocco Carzo into the net at 15:31.
The Reign continued to capitalize with the man advantage in the second period when White crossed in front of King’s wrist shot from the right point and tipped the puck underneath Bobkov at 1:05. That prompted Utah to make a change in net, replacing Bobkov with Eric Levine.
Michael Pelech got the Grizzlies on the board on a delayed whistle, sidestepping an Ontario defender and snapping the puck past Jussi Olkinuora at 11:43.
Utah continued its attempt at a rally in the third period when Michael Pelech fed brother Matt Pelech for a one-timer that beat Olkinuora at 6:34 to cut the Reign lead to two goals.
Ontario gained some breathing room when King snapped the puck past Levine at 15:30, and then White sealed the victory with an empty-net goal at 18:18 to complete the hat trick.
Olkinuora picked up the win with 22 saves; Bobkov took the loss with four stops in 21:05 of action, while Levine made 11 saves in 37:41 of relief.
Three Stars:
1. ONT – Matt White
2. ONT – Tristan King
3. ONT – Garry Nunn
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