With many of their best players currently playing up in the NHL, the Ontario Reign have struggled this season, dropping to last in the Pacific Division and losing eight of their last 10 games. They’re a young team, with 11 rookies donning a Reign jersey this season, and their play has often reflected that.
Even still, with a tough year unfolding for the Reign, there are several players who have stood out for their play and development, and two of them—Sheldon Rempal and Sean Walker—have found themselves as the Reign’s representatives to the AHL All-Star Game.
Rempal, a rookie forward, was signed by the Kings as an undrafted free agent after completing two years at Clarkson University. He currently leads the Reign in points with 24, despite missing seven games during his call-ups to the NHL. Rempal’s 24 points also tie him for fifth in rookie scoring in the AHL. He’s seen several stints with the Kings, playing in seven total NHL games this season.
Walker is in his second year with the Reign; he was signed to an AHL contract after completing a four-year career at Bowling Green State University, and earned himself an NHL contract with the Kings over the summer. He’s emerged as one of the Reign’s top defensemen; until his recall to the Kings, Walker led all Reign defensemen in points, with 11 in 20 games. Walker’s participation in the All-Star Game depends on whether he is reassigned to the AHL by the Kings, which seems questionable given that he looks to be getting into the groove of playing in the NHL.
That shot 😁 – 2 more years of Sean Walker in the Kings organization! pic.twitter.com/GZ18Xs8JmL
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) July 3, 2018
The 2019 AHL All-Star Classic will be held January 27-28 in Springfield, Massachusetts and consists of a skills competition and three-on-three tournament.
Kings Things
In case you want to relive last night’s drubbing. [Jewels from the Crown]
The happier view from the other side of the ice. [Raw Charge]
Post-game notes and quotes from Willie Desjardins, Anze Kopitar, and Austin Wagner. [Kings Insider]
As the season drags on, the Kings are going to have some big decisions to make on who stays and who goes. [The Athletic]
A look at how Spanish-language hockey announcers, including Kings announcer Francisco X. Rivera, translate the game for their audiences. [ESPN]
Daniel Brickley’s had a rough first season as a pro. Is he still projected as an NHL defenseman? [The Athletic]
World Juniors
With Canada and Sweden eliminated, that leaves just two Kings prospects still in the hunt for a medal: Rasmus Kupari of Finland and Mikey Anderson of the United States.
A recap of the semi-final round. [Raw Charge]
A preview of today’s semi-final round. [Eyes on the Prize]
Today’s game schedule:
- Relegation round: Denmark vs. Kazakhstan (9:00 AM PST, not televised)
- Semifinal: United States vs. Russia (1:00 PM PST; NHLN, TSN)
- Semifinal: Switzerland vs. Finland (5:00 PM PST; NHLN, TSN)/
Elsewhere
Buffalo Sabres owner Kim Pegula talks about her experiences as a woman in the sports world, her responsibilities to the team, and what she loves about Buffalo. [NHL]
Time catches up with us all, including New Jersey Devils captain Andy Greene. [All About the Jersey]
Some mid-season award predictions for the CWHL. [The Ice Garden]
The Washington Capitals share the stories behind their jersey numbers. [The Athletic]
Re-imagining a better format for the AHL All-Star Game. [Arctic Ice Hockey]
Women’s hockey continues to grow in Arizona, but there’s still work to be done to give more girls opportunities. [The Athletic]
Phillipp Grubauer has a big opportunity in front of him to help the Colorado Avalanche out of their slump. [Mile High Hockey]
The U.S. women’s U-18 team is looking for its fifth straight World Championship gold medal. [USA Hockey]
Evening Entertainment
Who owns the longest winning streak in the NHL right now? There’s two teams — one is the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the other is the Pittsburgh Penguins. Despite a slow start to the season, the Penguins are back on track. They face off against the Winnipeg Jets tonight at 4:00 p.m. Pacific time. The game can be viewed on the NHL’s streaming service.
*PING* Off the crossbar and in for Tanner Pearson! pic.twitter.com/YsXLqBPAAs
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 3, 2019