2015-16 AHL Ontario Reign--Western Conference Finals!

[Jason Lewis]

Exit interviews took place today. Some interesting stuff from Kempe, Mersch, Dowd, Gravel etc. plus more to come later. Pretty exhaustive amount of stuff to write about but here is a bit!

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Jaso...ntario-Reign-Season-Exit-Interviews/179/77304

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

So, that's some Sutter grit for you. Brett was trying to play through a fractured pelvis.

 

[Jason Lewis]

So, that's some Sutter grit for you. Brett was trying to play through a fractured pelvis.

We were all pretty dumbfounded when he said that.

 

[Fat Elvis]

I expect Middleton and one of Mistele and Marchment to get contract offers from Ontario. Not bad players and all could have decent AHL careers.

 

[triplcrown]

Wow.

LE Monsters smash Hershey, 4-1.

Our loss to LE looks more understandible
as time goes on.

LE has "The Look".

Know what I mean?

 

[regulate]

http://www.pe.com/articles/aeg-804501-ontario-arena.html?page=1

AEG will no longer be running Citizens Business Bank Arena effective July 1st. They will still own the ONT Reign hockey club. Hope there are no hiccups here.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Huh. That actually sounds kind of ominous.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

AEG also ceased operations of the Hamburg Freezers of the DEL.

http://m.dw.com/en/bid-to-save-hamburg-freezers-del-ice-hockey-team-comes-up-short/a-19281624

Since our (original) announcement last Wednesday there has been an unbelievable wave of support in Hamburg, especially from fans of the Freezers. Unfortunately we have not found a strategic partner to take over the Freezers and free AEG of the task of operating two teams in one league," Tom Miserendino, president and CEO of AEG Europe said in the statement, referring to the fact that the company also owns Berlin's DEL club.

The statement also noted that the despite an average attendance at Freezers home games of more than 9,000, the company had continued to lose money operating the club. The deadline to apply for a license expired at midnight on Tuesday.

 

[triplcrown]

AEG also ceased operations of the Hamburg Freezers of the DEL.

http://m.dw.com/en/bid-to-save-hamburg-freezers-del-ice-hockey-team-comes-up-short/a-19281624

Does that mean we'll all get E Coli now?

 

[Sybil227]

Does that mean we'll all get E Coli now?

 

[triplcrown]

Gotta' keep those burgers cold, know what I mean?

 

[triplcrown]

This may be old news but I heard the Lakers' "D" League team will also be playing in CBBA next year,
so terms and schedule must be worked out with the 2 teams.

Since buck$ are involved, I wouldn't worry about any lasting problems coming to new agreements.

With The Dodgers' minor league team in nearby Cucamonga, the 3 major LA sports teams
will all have great minor-league action nearby.

 

[TonyAndrock]

I compiled lists for all the AHL Western Conference teams in terms of who's under contract for next season and all the free agents. They can be found here: http://highlandparkhockey.blogspot.com/2016/06/offseason-guide-part-2-ahl-free-agents.html

Any corrections I need to make with Ontario's list?

Ontario Reign (Los Angeles Kings)

Under Contract

Forwards: Michael Amadio, Justin Auger, Jonny Brodzinski, Adrian Kempe, Joel Lowry and Michael Mersch and Spencer Watson (AHL)

Defensemen: Erik Cernak, Nick Erbert, Kevin Gravel, Paul LaDue, Zachary Leslie, Alex Lintuniemi, Vincent LoVerde, Kurtis MacDermid and Damir Sharipzyanov

Goaltenders: Jack Flinn & Peter Budaj

Impending Free Agents

NHL UFA: defenseman Jeff Schultz and forward Brett Sutter

NHL RFA: goaltender Patrik Bartosak, defensemen Derek Forbort and Alex Roach and forwards Andrew Crescenzi, Nic Dowd and Maxim Kitsyn

AHL UFA: goaltender Michael Houser defenseman Kevin Raine and forwards Sean Backman, Paul Bissonnette, Sam Herr, Ryan Horvat, Kris Newbury, Matt Leitner and Jordan Samuels-Thomas

 

[triplcrown]

This just my opinion, but ...

I think the LE Monsters' 4-game sweep of Hershey to win the Calder Cup (the Monsters won
their last 9 straight PO games),in a way
makes the Ontario Reign look a bit better than they normally might after a PO loss.

The team did make the final 4 with decisive PO wins and were only
beaten by the team of destiny that swept its way to the championship on
a white-hot streak that never quit.

I bet the Reign would have done well against Toronto or
Hershey, and possibly even beaten them both.

The Reign had a great year overall (top defensive club, 680. win %) ,
albeit not a Cup-winning one.
Several top prospects made fine progress this season (Gravel, Dowd, Mersch, Auger, esp), and
seem well-prepared to reinforce the Kings next season.

LE was just too good and too dang hot at the crucial time.
The absence of Sutter and Brodz near the end just made it even harder for the Reign.

And I want to add I am also relieved The Duncks signed Carlyle for their new coach,
and didn't try to snatch
the (IMO) precious and still-golden Mike Stothers from our vault.