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Kings Out but Reign, Monarchs, and Steelheads Are Marching On

I have to admit. I mourned after the Los Angeles Kings failed to make the playoffs this year. Even though we here at CaliSports News and at LA Kings Road Talk Radio saw it coming throughout the season, I was still upset, moody and angry after it officially happened, and I still am upset, moody and angry about it, (I’m a die-hard Kings fan, what do you expect?), but what has been bringing me some hope is the fact that both minor league affiliates of our LA Kings, the Ontario Reign of the AHL and the Manchester Monarchs of the ECHL are battling hard in their respected playoffs and doing well (so far). Also doing well and battling hard are two Kings’ prospects, forward Spenser Watson and defenseman Jacob Moverare of the OHL’s Mississauga Steelheads, who have steamrolled their way to the OHL Championship Final for the J. Ross Robertson Cup against the Erie Otters. The winner of that series will advance to the prestigious Memorial Cup championship tournament against the winners of the WHL and QMJHL leagues. So at least when it comes to our LA Kings, at least the kids are doing alright and marching on.

(The Kids are Alright)

Ontario Reign

(photo credit to San Diego Union Tribune)

It’s do or die time for our Reign as they are locked in a 2-2 tie in the first round, best 3 out of 5 series against the rival San Diego Gulls, of the rival Anaheim Ducks. With their backs against the wall last night, the Reign were able to tie the series up with an excellent team performance by beating the Gulls 4-1.

Led by T.J. Hensick, Adrian Kempe, Jonny Brodzinski, Mike Amadio, Michael Mersch, “The Big Show” Justin Auger, Paul LaDue, goalie Jack Campbell and Captain Vincent LoVerde, the pivotal and final game 5 elimination game of this bitter series between the Reign and the Gulls will be played tonight at 7 pm pacific/10 pm eastern time, in San Diego at the Valley View Casino Center. For those of you who aren’t already, and are interested in following the Ontario Reign, you can do so by downloading the AHL LIVE app from iTunes here, and/or by following their official twitter account, @OntarioReign.

Also here’s a link to my colleague Jim Ellis’ latest Ontario Reign Weekly Wrap-Up Article;

Weekly Wrap-up: Reign Must Win Tonight

LET’S GO REIGN!!! #ReignTrain

Manchester Monarchs

After disposing of a very game Adirondack Thunder in 6 games, the 2015 Calder Cup Champions, (from when the Monarchs were the Kings’ AHL affiliate at the time,) now lead the (local for me, and by local I mean a 45 minute drive on the highway), Brampton Beast 2-1, in their ECHL Kelly Cup second round series. The Monarchs, who have been playing some inspired hockey, dominated the Beast in game 3 last night, 4-0 to take a control in that series. Stand outs for the Monarchs have been forwards Matt Leitner, who has 11 points in 9 games, Nic Shore’s younger brother, Quinton Shore, who has 10 points in 9 games and some stellar goaltending by Sam Brittain, who’s won all 6 playoff games so far for the Monarchs, and has a 2.00 GAA and .931 SV%.

Game 4 is tonight at 4 pm pacific/7 pm eastern time in Manchester, New Hampshire at the SNHU Arena. Game 5 will be tomorrow night, (gotta love these three playoff games/nights in a row in minor league hockey, ugh), also at 4 pm pacific/7 pm eastern time in Manchester. If the series goes longer than 5 games then you can expect myself to be there in Brampton, ON to cover the Monarchs in person!

For those of you not already, and are interested in following the Monarchs and their march in the ECHL Kelly Cup playoffs, you can do so from the official twitter account, @MonarchsHockey.

GO MONARCHS GO!!!

Mississauga Steelheads

Now the Steelheads aren’t a Kings’ affiliate, but as mentioned above they do have TWO LA Kings’ prospects on the roster, and they and the whole team are playing phenomenally and are making a monster push towards the Memorial Cup. Forward Spencer Watson, is having a thrilling playoffs so far and right now leads the OHL playoffs with 14 goals, while fellow Kings’ prospect and Steelheads teammate, defenseman Jacob Moverare, has 7 points and is a +17, and seems to be getting better and stronger in every game.

Also on the team is Owen Tippett, who has 15 points in 15 playoff games so far, and will be highly drafted in this year’s NHL entry draft in Chicago. Could he be picked up by the Kings???

After disposing of the Ottawa ’67s in 6 games, the Oshawa Generals in 5, and the Peterborough Petes in a 4 game sweep, the Steelheads are now battling the Erie Otters in the OHL J. Ross Robertson Cup final. The winner then moves on for a shot at the prestigious Memorial Cup.

Game 1 of the OHL championship Final will be played on Thursday, May 4th, in Erie, PA at 4 pm pacific/7 pm eastern time. Games 3 and 4 will be playing locally to me in Mississauga, ON, (and by locally, I mean 30 minutes up the highway), so look for my live coverage of this championship series here at CaliSports News.

For those of you who aren’t already, and are interested in supporting the Kings’ prospects Watson and Moverare, and their chase of the Memorial Cup, you can do so by following the Mississauga Steelhead’s official twitter account, @OHLSteelheads.

GO HEADS … er… I mean GO STEELHEADS … um … how does it go … oh forget it.

GO WATSON AND MOVERARE GO!!! BOOM!!!

So in closing, yes the Kings didn’t make the playoffs, but we still have some Kings’ family out there battling for some championship hardware in some exciting and hard-hitting playoff games, so let’s support our future LA Kings’ players on the Ontario Reign, Manchester Monarchs and Mississauga Steelheads and help cheer them on so they can go all the way!

GO KINGS GO!!!

Stay with us at Calisportsnews.com as we will keep you up-to-date on all things Los Angeles Kings and the rest of the LA sports teams! All Cali, all the time!

 

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