03/09/2011 11:36 PM
Alex Morton Records First Pro Point in First Pro Game
ONTARIO, Calif. – The Ontario Reign, proud affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, fell to the Idaho Steelheads, 6-3, before 6,116 fans at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Wednesday evening.
Center CJ Stretch opened scoring in the game 3:37 into the first period when he flipped a shot past the glove side of Idaho goaltender Kris Westblom with an assist from center Justin Taylor.
Left wing Mark Derlago answered back for the Steelheads with an unassisted power play goal at 17:36. His slap shot from the top of the right face-off circle sailed over the right shoulder of Reign netminder Mike Zacharias and tied the game at one. Right wing Junior Lessard caught Zacharias out of the crease 29 seconds later and took advantage of the open net, giving the Steelheads their first lead of the game, 2-1.
With 25 seconds remaining in the opening period and the Steelheads with a man advantage, Mark Derlago potted his second goal of the night when he snapped the puck into the top right corner of the net off assists from defenseman Weston Tardy and Junior Lessard.
The Steelheads held their 3-1 lead until 9:06 into the second period, when forward Kyle Kraemer sent a feed across the slot to right wing Alex Bourret, who flipped the puck past Westblom from the bottom of the right face-off circle. Defenseman Jordan Hill also registered an assist on the play.
Less than two minutes later, Idaho forward Kael Mouillierat deflected a shot from Weston Tardy past Zacharias to put the Steelheads up by two. Mouillierat’s power play goal closed out scoring in the second period, and the clubs headed into the final period with the Steelheads leading the Reign, 4-2.
Reign center Aaron Lewadniuk recorded his fourteenth goal of the season and cut the Idaho lead to one early in the  third period. Lewadniuk fired the puck over Westblom’s glove at 2:46, and left wing Alex Morton and center Michael Pelech recorded the assists. Morton marked his first professional point and first tally as a member of the Reign with the assist.
Mark Derlago netted the hat trick when he fired off a laser that Zacharias couldn’t see through traffic in front of the crease. His goal gave Idaho a 5-3 lead over Ontario at 16:59.
The Reign pulled Zacharias for the extra skater with just over a minute remaining in the game, but Junior Lessard found the empty net for his second goal and third point of the night. The Steelheads took the win with a final score of Idaho 6, Ontario 3.
To view the box score, click here.
To view current Pacific Division and league standings, click here.
Three stars:
1. IDH – Mark Derlago
2. IDH – Junior Lessard
3. ONT – Aaron Lewadniuk
REIGN DROPS
Join the Reign on a 3-Day "Ontario Reign Hockey Fan Cruise"! Celebrate a long weekend in style by taking a 3-Day cruise to Ensenada, Mexico with fellow Reign Fans! Enjoy private cocktail parties and a VIP Party! Only $50 deposit per person is required to secure your reservation. Visit the Connection to Cruise Web site at ConnectionToCruise.com for more information or to sign-up.
Ontario welcomes the Las Vegas Wranglers for a pair of 7 p.m. games on Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th. The fun kicks off with a Hooters pre-game rally at 5 p.m. at the Hooters Restaurant located at 725 N. Milliken in Ontario then continues at the arena with a "Beat Las Vegas" Cap Night, sponsored by San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino. The first 3,000 fans in attendance will receive "Beat Las Vegas" Cap #6 (in a series of seven), so be sure to arrive early, as doors open at 3 p.m.!
Saturday's game is Go Green & Teacher Appreciation Night, sponsored by the University of La Verne! Reign players will be wearing special edition jerseys that will be auctioned off immediately following the game against Las Vegas. Proceeds will benefit the University of La Verne scholarship foundation.
Also on Saturday, Luc Robitaille and a host of other Los Angeles Kings Alumni will play a game against the Ontario Fire Department at 4 p.m. Your ticket for the Reign game is also good for the 4 p.m. alumni game.
A post-game player party will be held at Boston's Pizza (4th & Milliken location) immediately following the post-game jersey auction. Come out, meet your favorite Reign players, and enjoy 15% off of your bill (excluding alcohol) when you show your ticket stub from the game.
Tickets start at $10 and can be purchased at the Citizens Business Bank Arena box office or online at ticketmaster.com.
-www.ontarioreign.com-
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