In an electrifying showdown at Casey’s Center, the Ontario Reign showcased their resilience with a 3-1 victory over the Iowa Wild. With a crowd of 8,500 fans watching, the Reign came from behind to seal the win, setting their sights on their next game against the Henderson Silver Knights.
The Reign found themselves trailing 1-0 after the first period, thanks to a power-play goal by Iowa’s Gerry Mayhew. Mayhew capitalized on a feed from Ben Jones, deflecting the puck past Pheonix Copley at 8:35, as the Wild outshot the Reign 12-8.
Ontario’s comeback began in the second period. With just over six minutes left, a roughing penalty on Iowa’s Ben Jones gave the Reign their first power-play opportunity.
Nikita Alexandrov didn’t waste it, tying the game with his 12th goal of the season. The play unfolded with Cole Guttman sending the puck to Martin Chromiak, who then set up Alexandrov at the crease.
Alexandrov’s precise shot found its way past Iowa’s goalie, William Rousseau.
The game remained tied until late in the third period when Chromiak delivered the game-winner. Picking up a loose puck after a mishap by Iowa’s Matt Kiersted, Chromiak maneuvered around Rousseau and tucked the puck in, notching his 22nd goal of the season.
With the clock winding down, and Iowa pulling their goalie for an extra attacker, Andre Lee put the game out of reach. Lee, leading the team with his 25th goal, found the empty net with just 37 seconds left, securing the 3-1 victory.
Copley was a fortress in goal, stopping 26 of 27 shots, boosting his record to 7-1-1 over his last nine starts. Meanwhile, Rousseau made 22 saves on 24 shots for Iowa. Special teams played a crucial role, with Ontario converting one of their two power-play chances, while Iowa managed just one goal from five opportunities.
The Reign’s performance demonstrated their grit and skill, setting a high bar as they prepare to face the Silver Knights. This win is a testament to their depth and determination as they continue their impressive season.