OJR go from offensive masterclass to promising comeback

The Ontario Jr. Reign looked to continue their form from the opening weekend of the season, entering the weekend 2-0-0. They matched up against the Ventura Vikings in Game 1, then traveled the next day to face the Bakersfield Roughnecks.

The first major action of the game was a shorthanded own goal by the Jr. Reign, putting them behind early. Despite the setback, the rest of the period became the Luke Cannon and Ethan Sellwood show.

Sellwood made his season debut and didn't disappoint. He was a brick wall in goal, making crucial saves on penalty kills throughout the game. He finished with 26 saves on 28 shots.

The Jr. Reign tied the game by keeping possession in their attacking zone, which allowed Sean Chernyak to take a shot from the blue line that Cannon redirected into the back of the net. Cannon added a second goal just a minute later when Denver Craig received an outlet pass and crossed the blue line, dragging a defender with him. This left a trailing Cannon open for the go-ahead goal.

Cannon wasn’t done yet. With under a minute left in the first period, he picked up the puck in the neutral zone, deked a defender, and beat the goalie with a top-shelf backhand to complete his hat trick. The period ended 3-1 in favor of the Jr. Reign.

The second period saw a flurry of goals from Ontario, starting with a goal by Craig following a faceoff win in the attacking zone. Craig lined up a shot from between the circles, collected his own rebound, and beat the goalie stick-side for his first goal of the season.

With just under nine minutes left in the period, Cannon scored his fourth goal as another net drive by Craig pulled the defender and goalie out of position, leaving an easy finish. Just 50 seconds later, Bryn Studney-Amos got in on the action. After a failed Vikings clearance, Kayden Buffalo intercepted the puck and passed to a wide-open Studney-Amos, who netted his first goal of the campaign.

Tyler Huston also scored his first goal for Ontario during a quick transition out of the defensive zone, leaving him in a one-on-one with the keeper. There wasn’t much time to celebrate, as Ventura pulled one back, making the score 7-2 with four minutes left in the second period.

The final goal of the period came from Jett Labossiere, who scored his first for the Jr. Reign after a shot from Chad Christensen rebounded into Labossiere’s path for an easy putback. The second period ended with an 8-2 lead for the Jr. Reign.

The third period was calmer compared to the first two, as both teams settled into a more transitional style of play. However, OJR’s Adam Layden capitalized on a power play opportunity, blasting a shot from inside the left circle.

The game wound down as both sides saw it out, with the final score 9-2 in favor of the Ontario Jr. Reign.

Game 2 was much closer, as the Jr. Reign mounted a late comeback, but it ultimately wasn’t enough.

The Jr. Reign found themselves down a goal within the first five minutes, as the Roughnecks transitioned on an odd-man rush and converted the opportunity. Three minutes later, on a power play, a shot from the top of the zone was saved by Charles, but the rebound fell to a Roughnecks player, who made it 2-0.

Ontario created chances during the period, including a 4-on-3 power play that was shut down. The first period ended 2-0, marking the first time this season the Jr. Reign had trailed after a period.

Bakersfield added a third goal two and a half minutes into the second period, after the puck was dumped into the Jr. Reign’s defensive zone. A Roughnecks player collected it, and while the initial shot was saved, they capitalized on a scramble in front of the net.

The Jr. Reign opened the third period with intensity. Five minutes in, Cannon pulled one back. Gavin Evans crossed the blue line, danced around a Roughnecks defender, and put a shot on goal. The puck spilled in front of the net, where Cannon was there for the putback.

From there, Ontario kept Bakersfield pinned in their own zone, forcing penalties and defensive clearances. Consistent pressure brought Ontario within one goal with four minutes to play. A poor clearance by the Roughnecks fell to Dylan Gerber, who buried it from the top of the left faceoff circle, making it 3-2 and setting up a dramatic finish.

The Jr. Reign pulled their goalie for the final minute but couldn’t capitalize. Despite outshooting the Roughnecks 19-8 in the third period, it was too little too late, and Ontario suffered their first loss of the season, 3-2.

The Jr. Reign now hold a 3-1-0 record, tied for second in the Pacific Division.

Next up, Ontario takes a road trip to Nevada to face the Henderson Force in a three-game series starting Friday, Oct. 4, through Sunday, Oct. 6. Catch all the action on FloHockey.tv.

To stay updated on the Ontario Jr. Reign, visit their website or follow them on social media.