Rematch of Pacific Division playoffs falls in favor of the Monsters

After last weekend's home defense, the Ontario Jr. Reign hit the road to play three games in three days against the Fresno Monsters. Fresno had the Jr. Reign’s number, as the Monsters swept the series.

These teams have a bit of history from last season, as the Jr. Reign defeated the Monsters to win the Pacific Division and advance to the National tournament.

Game one was a 12-goal affair that saw Domenick McInenly in goal. This was McInenly’s sixth start of the season, entering the match with a .964 save percentage.

The opening period was defensive, as both sides took shots on goal, but none were threatening enough to get on the scoreboard until Fresno took the lead with just over 12 minutes remaining, scoring off a redirection from a shot at the point.

The Jr. Reign found the equalizer six minutes later, as Christopher Lai picked up the puck in the neutral zone, flew down the right wing, and centered it to Jack Forrester in front of the net, who sent it past the keeper.

Lai wasn’t done yet, scoring a goal of his own with a minute and a half remaining. After blocking a shot in his own end, Lai sped past the Fresno defenders on a breakaway and beat the goalie stick-side to give the Jr. Reign a 2-1 lead.

The second period started similarly to the first, with both teams putting shots on net, but without converting. Once again, the Monsters scored to open the period, as a shot from the top of the right circle was deflected into the net by a screening Fresno attacker, leveling the game at 2-2.

Just three minutes later, Jesiah Bennett put Ontario ahead after a forced turnover in the neutral zone, picked up by Lai. Lai and Carter Demelo took shots on goal, and when both were saved, the rebound found Bennett’s stick, giving him an empty half of the net.

That marked Demelo’s first point of the season, as he was a late addition to this year’s roster. Demelo is no stranger to OJR, having played a pivotal role during the 2022-2023 season.

Kayden Buffalo added his name to the scoresheet just 20 seconds later, capitalizing on a poor clearance from the Monsters that ended up with Denver Craig. Craig gathered all of Fresno’s attention, leaving Buffalo wide open at the far post.

Ontario later scored on a power-play opportunity directly off a faceoff. Demelo had the puck on the right circle and fired a pass across the ice to Craig in the left circle, who sent it home, giving the goalie no chance to make a save.

With just over four minutes remaining, both teams skated out the period, bringing the score to 5-2 in favor of the Jr. Reign heading into the second intermission.

The third period was all Fresno Monsters, as they nailed five unanswered goals, including two power-play goals, two short-handed goals, and an empty-netter, ending the game with a final score of 7-5.

Ontario created some chances on three power-play opportunities but couldn’t convert, as the Monsters’ goaltender came up big late in the match.

Nikolas Charles was named the starter for game two, making his sixth start, aiming to help the Jr. Reign even the series.

Much like the first game, the first period didn’t see much action, with only 13 total shots on goal, eight from the Monsters and five from the Jr. Reign.

At nearly the same time as in game one, Fresno scored the opening goal due to a costly turnover in the slot in the Jr. Reign zone.

As the period continued, Ontario successfully killed five penalties, ending the period 1-0.

Ontario found themselves on the penalty kill just two minutes into the second period, but being short-handed didn’t phase them. A misplayed pass from Fresno allowed Bennett to use his speed and convert a one-on-one breakaway to level the game. Ontario then killed the rest of the penalty.

Just three minutes later, the Jr. Reign took the lead directly off a faceoff as Lai forced a turnover behind the Monsters’ net. As he circled back, he slid a pass to Demelo in the slot, who drilled it home for a 2-1 lead.

Due to the familiarity between these teams, the game became chippy, leading to game misconducts and ejections.

After the dust settled, the Monsters evened the score with a wrist shot from the right circle, then scored the go-ahead goal with just four seconds remaining as a Monsters player skated freely into the middle of the Ontario zone and beat Charles, taking a 3-2 lead.

Despite being down at the end of the second period, the Jr. Reign out-shot the Monsters 18-5.

The game slowed down in the final period, as the next goal would change the momentum. While both sides tried to regain their footing, Fresno added another tally just four minutes in with a give-and-go in front of the net.

As time ticked down, not many shots on goal were taken, as the Monsters aimed to maintain their lead and the Jr. Reign tried to claw back.

In the final minute, Ontario pulled Charles in hopes of narrowing the lead, but Fresno added an empty-netter, ending game two with a final score of 5-2.

Ontario ended the game with 30 shots on goal, while the Monsters had 21.

The Jr. Reign looked to avoid the sweep, and Charles was back between the posts for the final game.

Buffalo got the scoring started with a backhand in front of the net after Caiden Stratychuck fired a shot from the point. The shot was saved, falling to Craig, who found Buffalo for the opening goal.

The Jr. Reign had a power-play opportunity with just over five minutes left in the period. As they regrouped in their own zone, the Monsters forced a turnover and scored a short-handed goal.

When that penalty expired, Fresno capitalized on a power-play opportunity of their own a minute later, scoring off a one-timer after a faceoff in the left circle in the Ontario zone.

The remaining two minutes ticked down as the period ended 2-1.

It was a scoring frenzy early in the second period.

The Monsters added their third goal four minutes in, as a Fresno attacker nailed a wrist shot from the middle of the zone.

Ontario responded quickly a minute later, with Craig racing to beat an icing call and wrapping around the net to beat the Monsters’ goaltender with a top-shelf backhand.

Just two minutes later, the Monsters struck again after an Ontario icing brought a faceoff in their own zone, which led to a wrist shot from inside the right circle.

This put the score at 4-2, with 14 minutes remaining in regulation.

Fresno didn’t let up, adding another goal from a one-on-one breakaway that Charles couldn’t stop.

Unfortunately, that ended Charles’ night as Ethan Sellwood came in to see out the rest of the match.

Ontario kept fighting as Craig scored his second goal just a minute later. Cannon picked up the puck at center ice and made an outlet pass to Craig as he entered the Fresno zone, beating the goalie on his glove side. The score was now 5-3 in favor of the Monsters with over nine minutes to play.

Both sides went back and forth, but ultimately nothing came of it as the period ended 5-3.

Fresno opened up the final period with a goal just over 30 seconds in. Just before the halfway point, they added another, extending their lead to 7-3.

More disputes between the teams led to game misconducts and disqualifications with nine minutes remaining.

Fresno added a final goal with just over two minutes left, with the final score reading 8-3 in favor of the Monsters, securing the sweep.

Fresno nearly doubled Ontario’s shots on goal, with the Monsters registering 42 to the Jr. Reign’s 24.

The Jr. Reign look to regroup for their next game, away against the Long Beach Bombers. Puck drops at 7 pm, and you can watch the game on FloHockey.tv.

Join the Ontario Jr. Reign for their next home game this Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11. Tickets are free for all Ontario-Montclair School District students, staff, and parents. Puck drops at 12:30 pm at the Center Ice Arena. Get your tickets today at Tickets - Ontario Jr Reign