OJR defends their home with four point week

The Ontario Jr. Reign had a quick turnaround with consecutive home games, facing a rematch with the Lake Tahoe Lakers on Tuesday and then the Henderson Force on Saturday. Both games started slowly for the Jr. Reign, but the squad was able to settle in and win both games.

Domenick McInenly filled the crease for Tuesday’s game against the Lakers, who have scored the most goals across the USPHL thus far, with 98.

It was the Lakers who found their groove throughout the first period, finding themselves in Ontario's defensive zone often.

Nothing was too threatening for McInenly and the Jr. Reign, as they were able to clear their zone and kill penalties. 

“It just comes down to our four guys are out working their five guys,” head coach Jeremy Blumes said. “I think especially on the back end, our d-men do a good job of keeping it simple and making sure when a puck gets on their stick, it gets all the way down.”

Ontario showed some life by applying pressure during two power plays but wasn’t able to find the back of the net.

At the end of the first period, Lake Tahoe outshot the Jr. Reign 14-7, and the scoreboard read 0-0.

The Jr. Reign had a better start to the second period, getting pucks deep into the Lakers' defensive zone.

Both sides had chances to capitalize on power play opportunities, especially the Jr. Reign, as they had a 4-on-3 advantage with about six minutes left in the second period.

After each team was at full strength, the Lakers struck first as McInenly was able to stop a breakaway attempt but couldn’t hold on to the puck, allowing a Lake Tahoe player to score.

The clock wound down for the remaining three minutes, putting the score at 1-0 in favor of Lake Tahoe after two periods of play.

In the opening minutes of the third period, the Jr. Reign brought all the energy, searching for the equalizer.

The eagerness to get on the scoreboard proved a bit much, as Ontario went on the penalty kill just after four minutes of play.

Directly after the penalty, Ontario won the face-off in their own zone, and it was Denver Craig who flew down the right wing, beating the defenders with his speed and nailing home the backhand equalizer to tie the game at one apiece.

The match became very back and forth as neither team wanted to concede the go-ahead goal.

With just under four minutes to play, a shot from Kayden Buffalo was stopped by a Lakers defender. The puck deflected right to the stick of Gavin Evans, who sniped a shot that beat the goalie stick side from the middle of the zone, giving the Jr. Reign the lead. Evans’ go-ahead goal was his first of the campaign.

Just a mere 40 seconds later, Jesiah Bennett forced a turnover in the Lakers' defensive zone and dumped the puck off to Darian Sinclair, who made a quick pass to Christopher Lai, who netted another goal.

With just over three minutes remaining in regulation, the game was out of reach for the Lakers, as the game ended 3-1 for the Ontario Jr. Reign. 

“We were off to a slow start in the first and then we picked it up during the second, and then capitalized in the third,” Craig said. “So overall, I think the teams really come together, and it was great win”

Game two also started slowly for the Jr. Reign but ended with Ontario in cruise control.

Goaltender Nikolas Charles got the nod for his sixth start of the season, as he was called into action early in the first period.

The Henderson Force came out strong from the opening face-off, as the Jr. Reign had a difficult time leaving their defensive zone within the first six minutes.

Just before the halfway point, Charles made a quality save with a Force attacker right in front of the net. Sinclair found an outlet to Craig, who had a shot that wrapped around the boards to be picked up by Sinclair again. He dropped the puck to a darting Bennett, whose shot ripped into the upper corner of the net, beating the goalie stick side.

After a slow start, the Jr. Reign took a 1-0 lead at the halfway point of the first period.

From there on, it was all Ontario, as Buffalo added another goal to the scoreboard after Craig grabbed his own rebound, wrapped around the net, and got another shot off. The chaos Craig caused led to a scramble in front of the net for Buffalo to clean up.

As time wound down, Charles denied a one-on-one breakaway with a spectacular split save, keeping the game at 2-0.

The second period started at a much better pace for Ontario, as they piled into their attacking zone.

While Charles could deny another breakaway opportunity for the Force, Ontario crossed the blue line into the attacking zone. After connecting some passes, the puck fell to Jack Forrester in his OJR debut, in the right circle, as his wrist shot beat the Henderson goalie glove side for the third goal of the night. That goal opened Forrester’s point account for the season.

It wasn’t smooth sailing just yet, as Henderson pulled one back just under three minutes later off a neutral zone face-off, with the Force attacker beating Charles with a top-shelf backhand. 

“We just broke down, and they got a couple chances, and they just capitalized one.” Craig said.  “So we just got to work on that in practice and tidy that up, and I think we'll be good.”

With just under 12 minutes remaining in the second, neither side added to their score, ending the period 3-1.

Four minutes into the final period, Ontario capitalized on a power play opportunity as Craig picked up the puck in the neutral zone, drove towards the net, toe-dragged past a defender, and dropped the puck off to Bennett to nail home his second of the night. 

“I do think we were looking for one another. We were getting to our spots, we were supporting the puck better,” Blumes said about the OJR power plays. “ Like anything, it's a work in progress, but I certainly thought there was some improvement there.”

As the period continued, it was Craig again dancing around the Force defenders as he put a shot on goal that rebounded to Luke Cannon, whose shot landed on Buffalo’s stick as he also scored his second of the night.

That secondary assist by Craig would be his fifth of the night, putting him at 19 assists for the season. 

“ I think the scary thing is that there's a bunch of room for improvement with him, we're just scratching the surface on how good a player he can be,” said Blumes about Craig’s run of form. 

Charles and the Jr. Reign defensemen settled the rest of the match as the clock counted down the remaining time in regulation.

The final score ended 5-1 in favor of the Jr. Reign.

The Jr. Reign stay undefeated at home collecting four of four points for the week. 

“I also think that the guys do take pride in playing in our home in front of friends and family, and billet families,” Blumes said.“It's definitely more fun leaving your home rink like this, when you get the two points at the end of the night.” 

The Ontario Jr. Reign then hit the road to take on the Fresno Monsters for three games in three days, from Thursday to Saturday. 

OJR’s next home game is on veterans day, Monday, Nov. 11, against the San Diego Sabers puck drop at 12:30 p.m. Get your tickets now at Tickets - Ontario Jr Reign.