Reign Add Two Rookies to Roster
Defenseman Ryan Card and Forward Eric Thomassian Join Team 

ONTARIO, Calif. – The Ontario Reign of the ECHL, proud affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings, announced today that they have signed D Ryan Card and F Eric Thomassian to the 2008-09 Reign roster. Per Club policy, the terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Ryan Card, 24, enters into his first professional season with the Reign after completing his college career with St. Thomas University (CIS) in Fredericton, NB. While with the Tommies from 2005-2008, Card participated in 74 games, registering seven goals, 13 assists (20 points) and was named assistant captain of the STU men’s team his third year.

“I am excited to be moving to Ontario” Card said. “I have been hearing a lot about the city and I am looking forward to the challenge of playing with a brand new team in a new venue.”

Originally from Bancroft, ON, the 6-foot 1-inch, 195-lb defenseman, played five seasons in the OHL spending time with the Peterborough Petes (2000-03) and the Guelph Storm (2003-05). During his junior hockey career, Card accumulated 92 points (24g, 68a) in 307 games played; his best season in 2004-05 where he posted seven goals and 22 assists for 29 points on the season.

Eric Thomassian (tuh-MAH-see-uhn),25, a native of Rye, N.Y., heads back to the United States to begin his Rookie career with the Reign after spending the past season (2007-08) in Germany with the Deggendorf EC (GerObL). While playing overseas, Thomassian skated in 53 games netting 21 goals and assisting on 26 others for 47 points, ranking him third amongst his teammates in goals for the season.

“I am looking forward to the opportunity to be a part of this team,” said Thomassian. “I have heard good things about Coach Taylor and I believe he will provide quality coaching. I am looking forward to playing for the Reign, Coach Taylor and the city of Ontario.”

Prior to playing in Germany, Thomassian played his college career with Boston University (NCAA) from 2003-07. While skating for BU, Thomassian accumulated six goals and 17 assists in 74 games for the Terriers.

“We are glad to have Ryan and Eric join the Reign this season” Reign Head Coach Karl Taylor said. “Ryan is a two-way defenseman who just graduated from University and is looking to begin his career. Eric is a skill guy who is excited to get back to North America and establish himself in this league.”

Card and Thomassian join Reign teammates D David Walker, C Jon Francisco and LW Chris Curran as the fourth and fifth players inked to the 2008-09 Reign roster.

ECHL
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 23 teams in 16 states and British Columbia playing 828 games from Oct. 17, 2008 to Apr. 4, 2009. Eighteen of the 23 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 row and the 16th time in the last 18 years that the league has averaged over 4,000 fans. The league has drawn over four million fans each of the last five years and 11 times in the past 12 seasons.

REIGN DROPS
Visit the all-new Reign website on the web at www.ontarioreign.com for all of the latest news surrounding Ontario Reign Professional Hockey. Sign up and enter-to-win two FREE season tickets to the Reign’s 2008-09 Inaugural Season just for visiting the site!

Season tickets and mini-plans for the Ontario Reign’s Inaugural season presented by the Mission Inn (www.missioninn.com) are on sale now and offer an affordable entertainment option for families and residents of the Inland Empire. For more information about Reign season tickets or mini-plans contact the Reign office at (909) 941-PUCK (7825) or visit www.ontarioreign.com.

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