REIGN TRADE FOR MARTENS

Defenseman Andrew Martens joins roster; Schulz and Taylor traded to Johnstown

ONTARIO, Calif. – The Ontario Reign of the ECHL, proud affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings, announced today that they have acquired D Andrew Martens in a trade that sent the rights to D David Schulz and C Max Taylor to the Johnstown Chiefs. Schulz and Taylor’s rights were previously obtained from the former Texas Wildcatters. Per Club policy, the terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Andrew Martens, 27, skates onto the Reign roster after spending his last two professional seasons (2005-07) with the Chiefs. The Friendswood, TX native played in 142 regular season games with the club and was the only player on their roster to compete in all 72 regular season and 8 playoff games during 2007-08.

As a Chief, Martens registered 15 goals, assisted on 53 others (68 points) and tallied 123 penalty minutes. During the 2006-07 season he led the team’s defensemen in points (30 points, 6 goals) and was tied for second overall with 24 assists for the year.

The 6-foot 1-inch, 205-lb defenseman, began his professional career in 2005-06 participating in five games and posting one assist with the former ECHL Greenville Grrrowl. Prior to the Grrrowl, Martens completed his college career with Bemidji State University in Bemidji, MN. He skated in 101 games from 2003-06, accumulating 11 goals and 29 assists (40 points) while with the Beavers.

“Andrew is an offensive defenseman who will contribute well to this team,” Head Coach Karl Taylor said. “We are happy to have him as a part of the roster this upcoming season.”

Martens join Reign teammates D David Walker, C Jon Francisco, LW Chris Curran, D Ryan Card and F Eric Thomassian, as the sixth player 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  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.