Along with a plethora of re-signings and new faces being added to the lineup, the Ontario Reign, affiliates of the Los Angeles Kings, has added two more faces for the 2024-25 campaign. Dryden McKay and Tate Singleton both played in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization last season and should be welcome depth additions to the crew.
Dryden McKay, 26, goaltender, signed a one-year AHL contract with the Reign earlier this month.
McKay played in both the North American Hockey League (NAHL) and the United States Hockey League (USHL) before heading to Minnesota State to play in the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) for four years from 2018-2022. He helped the Minnesota State Mavericks reach the Frozen Four and lost in the finals in 2022. He is one of nine players to earn NCAA Goaltending Champion more than once (2) and was a Hobey Baker Award Finalist three consecutive seasons, winning the award as the best player in the league in his final season.
After he graduated, McKay played for two seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, where he played 68 games with the Newfoundland Growlers (ECHL), who folded this past season, and two games with the Toronto Marlies (AHL). Last season, he recorded two shutouts, averaged 3.33 goals against, and had a .897 save percentage. He has also played in 12 Kelly Cup playoff games, with a record of 8-3, averaged 2.72 goals against, and a .901 save percentage.
He will most likely play with the LA Kings ECHL affiliates, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, but has the chance to be called up to the Reign if given the opportunity.
Forward Tate Singleton, 25, also signed a one-year AHL contract this month.
Similar to McKay, Singleton spent time in the NAHL and the USHL before heading into the NCAA. Singleton played four years at Ohio State University. His most successful campaign in the NCAA was his senior year, where he netted 11 goals and 16 assists through 40 games.
Singleton went on to join the Maple Leafs organization after he graduated, signing a one-year AHL contract. He spent his rookie season between the Toronto Marlies and the Newfoundland Growlers. In his 12 games with the Marlies, Singleton scored one goal and five assists for six points and a +5 rating. He came out flying in his first 12 games with the Growlers, scoring six goals and seven assists for 13 points. He finished his rookie season in the ECHL with an impressive 25 goals and 23 assists for 48 points through 59 games and had 102 penalty minutes.
Singleton will bring youth, point production, and grit to the organization. He will certainly impact whichever lineup he may find himself in, whether the Greenville Swamp Rabbits or the Ontario Reign.
You can catch the Ontario Reign take the ice this fall as they start the season with a three-game home stand at Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. The season opener will take place on Saturday, October 12, 2024.
