Interview with Ontario Reigns Vincent LoVerde and Sean Backman

After playing back to back games (winning both of them against the San Jose Barracuda by shutout) in their home arena in Ontario, California, Ontario Reign Captain Vincent LoVerde and forward Sean Backman (replacing Michael Mersch), along with teammate Peter Budaj, head coach Mike Stothers and mascot Kingston, had to jump right onto a plane after the game ended and fly across the country during the night to arrive and participate in the annual AHL All-Star Classic in Upstate, NY.  Arriving to Syracuse, NY and the Oncenter War Memorial Arena just minutes before the skills competition event began, assuming that the Reign players are exhausted is a complete overstatement.  Whether LoVerde or Backman were actually exhausted was hard to say because when speaking to them in person, both of the them were lively and sporting unforced smiles.  These men are warriors.

LoVerde was born in 1989 in Chicago, IL, and by 2011 the defenseman made his way to the original version of the Ontario Reign in the ECHL. Later he was brought up to the Los Angeles Kings’ AHL affiliate the Manchester Monarchs in 2013 and in time he was honored with the teams’ Captaincy.

LoVerde then led the Monarchs to their first ever (and last) Calder Cup championship victory in franchise history (and second overall by a LA Kings’ affiliate) by contributing 10 points in 19 games and solid leadership.

(Photo credit to chicago.cbslocal.com)

Now back with the new AHL version of the Ontario Reign, LoVerde is playing some inspired hockey and as a result the Reign are tops in the Pacific Division with 60 points. The AHL took notice and rewarded the Reign Captain to participate as an all-star for the Pacific Division team at the AHL All-Star Classic.  My colleague Ryan Cowley and I were fortunate enough to talk to the All-Star Captain during the annual event and with a suave yet calming demeanor (and well obviously, he is the CAPTAIN after all), this is what the Calder Cup winning leader had to say.

Captain, you played with the Ontario Reign originally in the ECHL, and then won the Calder Cup with the Monarchs in the AHL, and now you’re back with the Reign but now with the AHL.  What did you find was the biggest difference between playing for the Reign then in comparison to now?
I think everything now is run more smoothly. Obviously the AHL is a better league than the East Coast Hockey league. Just the level of play. They’re both great leagues but there’s a little bit better hockey, a little bit better facilities but they’re all fun.

What did you do for your “Day with the Calder Cup?”
I actually had it for two days which was nice. I had it on a Saturday and a Sunday.  On the Saturday we had a few people downtown from my family and we brought [the Calder Cup] out to a bar later that night and on Sunday we brought a bunch of people
over to our house.  It was a fun two days, I really enjoyed it.

Who was your favorite hockey player of all time?
I don’t know maybe … I don’t know that’s a good question. I don’t have one.

Any favorite players?
You know I grew up obviously as a defenseman watching Chris Chelios, being from Chicago so he was one I watched a lot.

With his rugged defensive style and no fear attitude, plus his suaveness and the calming demeanor that he oozes of that could only have a strong positive effect on any locker room or team, I have no doubt that with LoVerde still leading the charge as Captain, the Ontario Reign will have another great shot (or technically that version of the Reign’s first shot) at winning the prestigious Calder Cup. LoVerde knows the way to paradise and like a true leader, knows how to inspire his team to crush any opposing obstacle that dares to get in his team’s way. His determination gets him what he wants in the end.