Matchup: Ontario Reign at Idaho Steelheads. Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at Qwest Arena. 7 PM gametime each night.
Uhhh, where? Treasure Valley people hear “Ontario” and usually think of two places – nearby Ontario, Oregon … or not-so-near Ontario, Canada. This is neither. The Ontario Reign are based in the Los Angeles suburb in southern California. The Reign is in its second season after relocating from Texas following the 2007-2008 season.
November Reign: No, not the Ontario Reign. We’re talking reign on the ice. Forward Ashton Rome reigned supreme for Idaho in the month of November, netting seven goals in twelve games, including a hat-trick at Stockton on the team’s last road trip. It was the first hat-trick (three goals in the same game) by a Steelhead this season. Kris Sparre was the last to accomplish the feat for the ‘Heads, doing it last season.
Rookie Transition: If Evan Barlow is having a hard time transitioning from college to the pro game, the rookie out of Cornell of the Ivy League isn’t letting it show. Barlow is second on the team in goals (10) and points (20) in his first season of professional hockey. Five of his ten goals have come on the power play.
The Idaho Steelheads (19-4-2) held off the Ontario Reign (10-12-3) and their attempt at another third period comeback en route to a 2-1 win tonight at Qwest Arena. John Swanson netted the game-winner for his second goal in as many games to ensure that the Steelheads would never trail this evening.
The scoring started at 3:58 of the first period on the power play as Matt McKnight found an open Marty Flichel in the right wing circle, and Flichel fired home his fourth goal of the season. Also assisting on the goal was Brad Miller.
In the second period, Ashton Rome skated toward the slot and sent a shot high of the net. Swanson fielded a bounce off the endboards, and from a sharp angle punched a puck over the line to give the Steelheads the 2-0 lead. Guillaume Monast also assisted on Swanson’s sixth goal.
Just over four minutes into the third period, Ontario defenseman Jon Landry scored on a point shot that appeared to handcuff Idaho netminder Rejean Beauchemin, as the puck bounced off Beauchemin and into the goal. The Steelheads, however, kept Ontario in check for the remainder of the game, and killed off over 90 seconds of an Ontario five-on-three power play. In the game, Ontario failed to convert on each of their seven power play opportunities.
Beauchemin improves to 9-2-1 with the win; he stopped 16 shots. Curtis Darling falls to 7-8-2 with the loss for Ontario; he stopped 22 of 24 shots.
The two teams will finish their three-game set tomorrow night at Qwest Arena. The puck drops at 7:10 PM MST.