Sometimes the AHL and NHL schedules sync up perfectly. Following a heavyweight fight between the Kings and Oilers on Saturday night, now they’re respective AHL clubs are set to do battle on Sunday afternoon.
From an Ontario perspective, things look very different from when coach Andrew Lord’s team began a five-game homestand on New Year’s Eve. Since then, not one, not two, but three of their top players have been called up to LA over the last eleven days. Not to mention, captain Joe Hicketts missed a few games while representing Team Canada at the Spengler Cup.
Although that appeared to present a stiff challenge for Lord & Co., shuffling the lineup around hasn’t proven to be as crippling as some may have feared. Replacing Andre Lee, the team’s leading goal and point scorer, and Taylor Ward, the club’s leader in shots on goal, was far from easy. Yet, somehow, Ontario hasn’t missed a beat, putting together a four-game win streak and sitting just one point back of first place in the Pacific Division.
Keeping that momentum going in Bakersfield against the Condors will likely take the proverbial full team effort.
Of late, it’s been several young players who have stood out. Kings prospect and first-year pro Koehn Ziemmer is starting to establish himself as one of the Reign’s more important pieces. After beginning his 2025-26 season in the press box — missing the first six games as a healthy scratch — he’s emerged to earn a spot on the top power-play unit. Last time out on Friday night perhaps punctuated his rise with a standout performance. The WHL product produced a power-play goal and added an assist, earning himself second star of the game honors.
Who claimed first star of the game? Fellow rookie Kenny Connors. The fast-rising Kings prospect has also been elevated to the top power-play unit, and he delivered right away, Connors set up Ziemmer’s power-play goal with the primary assist. Further, he’s been Mr. Reliable all year long; making smart decisions, limiting mistakes, and contributing in every facet of the game.
Those qualities have earned him strong praise from veteran Jacob Doty, the longest-tenured Ontario Reign player:
Furthermore, 23-year-old Martin Chromiak is having the best season of his career. With 14 goals and 10 assists so far, he’s on pace to surpass all of his previous career totals.
Then there are two other rookies, as well, forward Jared Wright and defenseman Kirill Kirsanov. Wright sits at plus-15, and Kirsanov has arguably been the Ontario’s best defenseman throughout the season.
In short, the kids in Ontario have been outstanding, and they aim to carry that play into the start of a six-game road trip.
In goal, veteran Pheonix Copley will likely get the nod. Last time out against Iowa, he stopped 24-of-27 shots faced in a 4-3 victory for the Reign. It’s been more than a year since he last played in Bakersfield. That came on Nov. 30, 2024, when he allowed just one goal on 26 shots.
Injury Updates
Big Kings prospect Kaleb Lawrence is nearing a return very soon. The 6-foot-6 forward rode the wave of winning a Memorial Cup with OHL London in May 2024 into his first pro season one year ago. He eventually earned an important spot on Ontario’s fourth line and started there again this season. Unfortunately, he went down with an injury after opening weekend against Tucson. Getting the big man back can’t come soon enough, as he’s a glue guy who helps put a smile on his teammates faces, adds some significant toughness to the Reign lineup, and chips in with secondary offense.
Conversely, the news isn’t as positive for a pair of defensemen who remain sidelined. Word is, neither Kyle Burroughs nor Jack Millar are close to a return. They’re both going to need some more time before touching the ice again.
One additional note, with Erik Portillo recently returning from injury and Copley back in Ontario after a brief NHL callup, goalie Isaiah Saville to ECHL Greenville.
Reign Projected Lineup vs. Condors
If there are any key changes during pregame warmups, this article will be updated.
Alexandrov – Gawdin – Chromiak
Gutman – Connors – Wright
Jamsen – Pinelli – Ziemmer
Isogai – Hughes – Doty
Hicketts – Salin
Dvorak – Bolduc
Kirsanov – Booth
Copley (starter)
Portillo
Likely scratches: (F) Brown, Mastrodonato and (D) Rego
Recalled to LA: Guttman, Lee and Ward
Injured: Burroughs, Lawrence, Millar
Key Game Info
Puck drop is set for 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time and will be streamed via FloSports. Additionally, a Reign radio feed is available here.
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