Jon Rheault Records Three Points in Ontario’s Home Opener
ONTARIO, Calif. – The Ontario Reign, proud affiliate of the NHL Los Angeles Kings, was defeated by the Las Vegas Wranglers, 4-3, on Friday evening. The match, which drew 8,067 fans, marked the Reign’s first home game of the season. 
In the first match-up between the clubs in the 2009-2010 season, the Wranglers drew first blood at 8:23 in the first period. Right wing Mick Lawrence beat netminder Curtis Darling off an assist from forward Greg Collins.
Jon Rheault tied the game at 13:34 during a 5-on-3 man advantage. Defenseman Shawn Germain’s shot was saved by Las Vegas goaltender Michael Ouzas, but the rebound bounced off his pads and out to Rheault, who threw it past Ouzas on his stick side. Defenseman David Walker also picked up an assist on the goal.
Just over a minute later, Las Vegas center Josh Prudden claimed at shorthanded goal when the puck was deflected into the net by an Ontario skater. Prudden’s goal gave the Wranglers a one-goal lead.
Jon Rheault scored the equalizer and his second goal of the night at 16:21. Forward Adam Henrich sent a pass to Jon Rheault, who flipped it past Ouzas. Center Jon Francisco claimed the secondary assist on the play, and the clubs headed into the second period, tied at two.
Mick Lawrence scored his second goal of the night and the go-ahead goal for Las Vegas at 7:24. Lawrence received a feed from right wing Ned Lukacevic and wristed the puck past Darling from the top of the crease.
 Jon Francisco scored his first goal of the season while the Reign was on a 5-on-3 power play at 10:09. Jon Rheault came streaking down the right wing side and snapped a feed back to Francisco, who fired the puck over the goal line and tied the game. Neither team got on the board for the remainder of the second frame
The Wrangler’s Ned Lukacevic claimed his second point of the game at 13:46 in the third, when he sent a pass from Josh Prudden into the net. The power play goal gave Las Vegas a 4-3 lead.
Ontario pulled Curtis Darling for the extra attacker as time ran down in the third period, but they were unable to find the back of the net. Las Vegas claimed the win with a final score of Wranglers 4, Reign 3.
To view the box score, click here.
Three stars:
1. ONT – Jon Rheault
2. LV – Mick Lawrence
3. LV – Josh Prudden
Notes:
• Jon Rheault recorded three points (2g, 1a)
• Curtis Darling made 31 saves on 35 shots
• Jon Francisco scored his first goal of the season and picked up an assist
REIGN DROPS
The Reign is Going Green on Halloween Night! On Saturday, October 31, the Reign will face-off against their division rivals, the Bakersfield Condors. We will have an Eco-Village throughout the Citizens Business Bank Arena concourse, and provide tips on how to “go green” at home and your place of business. Eco-friendly, reusable shopping bags will be given away, as well as tree saplings (both while supplies last). Kids: be sure to dress up in your Halloween costumes, as we will have trick-or-treating throughout concourse and a costume contest for kids 15-and-under (please note that no masks are allowed in the arena). Reign players will be wearing special edition green jerseys during the game, which will be auctioned off in a post-game jersey auction, with proceeds benefitting the Frontier Project.
Tickets for the Reign's home opening weekend and the entire 2009-10 regular season are still available, and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com or by calling the Reign front office at (909)941-PUCK (7825)! Remember parking is FREE for all Ontario Reign hockey games!
-www.ontarioreign.com-
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