Reign Skate Into Local Youth Hockey Market
Ontario Reign Team Up with Three Inland Empire Youth Hockey Teams
ONTARIO, Calif. – The Ontario Reign of the ECHL, an aff
iliate of the Los Angeles Kings, announced today a partnership with three local youth hockey teams in the Inland Empire. One team in each of the Pee Wee, Bantam and Midget divisions will play as the Junior Ontario Reign for the 2008 Spring Continuity League.
In an effort to promote hockey awareness throughout the Inland Empire, the Reign supplied all teams with socks and jerseys in Reign team colors with the crest on the front of the jersey. They also provided the coaches’ warm-up suits to wear as they represent the Reign during their games and travels.
“Partnering with the Junior Reign has been a great opportunity for us to lend our support to the local hockey community while getting our name out there prior to the start of our inaugural season,” Reign Executive V.P. of Business Development Justin Kemp said. “We have a mission to not only raise awareness, but to grow the sport and develop new and existing players through grassroots initiatives like this.”
The Pee Wee Junior Reign,compromised of 13 players born in 1996 and 1997, plays 10 games during the spring continuity season that runs from April through June. Based out of Riverside Ice Town, they take part in the Orange County Select League (www.anaheimice.com).
The Bantam Junior Reign, made up of players born during 1994 and 1995, are based out of Riverside Ice Town and participate in the Spring Super League (www.superleague.biz). The Spring Super League consists of 24 games throughout the three-month season that runs from May through August. The league plays out of four host rinks in Valencia, Lakewood, El Segundo and Riverside.
The Midget Junior Reign, also based out of Riverside Ice Town, consists of 16 players born from 1990 to 1993. The team participates in the Orange County Select League and will play 10 games from April to June, with most games on Tuesdays and Sundays.
“This is the continuation of hockey education in the Inland Empire”, Graham Bell, general manager of the Spring Junior Reign program said. “Since the Anaheim Ducks won the Stanley cup last year, this is the perfect time to show that Southern California and the Inland Empire can be hockey communities. We can benefit from the surge of interest the Ontario Reign will bring and the program will assist the kids in keeping a healthy, active lifestyle. The Junior Reign offers a way for kids to stay out of trouble and to be a part of a team environment.”
For more information on how to become a member of the Junior Reign, contact Graham Bell at gecbell@aol.com.
ECHL
The ECHL opens its 21st season on Oct. 17, 2008 with eight games being played in seven states from Alaska to Florida. Inaugural season
Began in 1988-89 with five teams playing in four states, the Premier ‘AA’ Hockey League has grown into a coast-to-coast league that will have 24 teams in 16 states and British Columbia playing 864 games from Oct. 17, 2008 to Apr. 4, 2009. Nineteen of the 24 teams have played at least five years in their current city.
The third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League, the ECHL averaged 4,174 per game last season, marking the fourth year in a row and the 16th time in the last 18 years that the league has averaged over 4,000 fans.
Season tickets for the Ontario Reign’s Inaugural season presented by the Mission Inn (www.missioninn.com) are now on sale and offer an affordable entertainment option for families and residents of the Inland Empire. All season tickets include parking and access to all thirty-six home games starting at only $332, a savings of up to 25% off regular ticket prices! For more information about Reign season tickets contact the Reign office at (909) 941-PUCK (7825).
Visit the Reign on the web at www.ontarioreign.com for all of the latest news surrounding Ontario Reign Professional Hockey.
