After a disappointing Pacific Division Finals exit this past season, the Ontario Reign have said goodbye to some old friends, including captain TJ Tynan, and had a flurry of extensions and new signings.
Extensions
Taylor Ward, 26, fresh off a strong playoff performance for the Reign in his second full season, signed a one-year contract worth an annual average value (AAV) of $775,000. In his 158 games with the Reign since the 2021-22 season, the undrafted forward has recorded 23 goals and 45 assists for 68 points. He finished the 2022-23 season at a -20 rating but adjusted for the 2023-24 season, finishing at a +23 for a career total +6 rating. He was a top contributor in this year’s Calder Cup hunt, finishing his eight games played with two goals and seven assists and a +6 rating.
Joe Hicketts, 28, started as an undrafted defenseman with the Detroit Red Wings in the 2016-17 season. He played in 22 games with the Red Wings and 286 games with their AHL affiliates, the Grand Rapid Griffins, where he was able to win a Calder Cup in 2017. In his 449 AHL games, Hicketts has recorded 35 goals, 182 assists, and a +18 rating.
The longest-tenured Ontario Reign player, forward Jacob Doty, 31, signed a one-year extension to stay in the Inland Empire. Throughout Doty’s 208 AHL games between the Chicago Wolves and the Reign, he has recorded 16 goals and 17 assists as well as 485 penalty minutes. He scored a career-high seven goals and three assists this past season.
Andre Lee, 23, drafted with the 188th pick in 2019, has signed a one-year extension with the Kings. His one-year, two-way contract carries an average annual value of $775,000. Throughout his 105 AHL games, Lee has 14 goals and 10 assists. The forward also appeared in the Reign’s eight playoff games this past season, recording four goals and finishing with a +5 rating.
Drafted 51st overall in the 2018 Draft, forward Akil Thomas, 24, signed a two-year, $775,000 contract to stay with the organization. Thomas started with the Reign during the 2020-21 season and has played in 157 games for them recording 46 goals and 47 assists. He had a breakout season in the IE, notching 22 goals and 24 assists. He also played his first seven games in the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings where he was able to score three goals and one assist.
Forward Jack Millar, 23, played most of last season in the NCAA with Colorado College before signing a professional tryout agreement (PTO) with the Reign in early April. He debuted later that month and signed a one-year AHL-level contract to continue playing in the IE.
Similar to Millar, forward Quinn Olson, 23, signed a PTO and made his debut with the Reign late in the season. Olson played a handful of playoff games with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (ECHL) where he scored two goals and two assists in six games. He signed a one-year AHL contract.
Defenseman, Luke Rowe, 25, hopped aboard the Reign Train in February and signed a one-year AHL contract with the Reign. He played five games for the Reign, recording a goal and an assist before suffering an injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season.
Drafted 5th overall in the 2019 Draft by the Kings, Alex Turcotte, 23, had re-signed his contract for the next three seasons making $775,000 AAV. The forward split his time between the NHL and AHL since his debut in the 2020-21 season, playing 32 games for the Kings and 126 games for the Reign. He had his most successful season so far, recording his first NHL goal as well as 29 points in the AHL.
Samuel Fagemo, 24, signed a one-year extension worth $775,000 AAV. Since being drafted 50th overall in the 2019 Draft by the Kings, Fagemo has spent time in the NHL and AHL. The forward had a career-high 62 points (43g, 19a) through 50 games with the Reign this past season. He also played eight games in the NHL, four with the Nashville Predators and four with the Kings after being reclaimed off waivers.
Forward Tyler Madden, 24, signed a one-year contract worth $775,000 AAV. Madden, originally drafted 68th overall in the 2018 Draft by the Vancouver Canucks, just finished his third 30+ point season in his career. He also had a great playoff showing this past season, notching five goals and two assists through eight games.
Signings
Jeff Malott, 27, signed a two-year contract worth $775,000 AAV. He started his career in the 2020-21 season with the Winnipeg Jets as an undrafted free agent out of college and has played a majority of his games with the Manitoba Moose (AHL). Through his 273 AHL games, the forward has recorded 82 goals and 75 assists.
Originally drafted by the Boston Bruins 53rd overall in the 2017 Draft, Jack Studnicka, 25, has bounced around a few teams in the NHL and AHL. The forward has played 107 games in the NHL, recording six goals and 10 assists, and 153 games in the AHL, recording 41 goals and 76 assists. Studnicka signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Reign worth $775,000 AAV.
Forward Glenn Gawdin, 27, signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Reign worth $775,000 AAV. He has suited up for a handful of NHL games but has spent his career in the AHL after being drafted 116th in the 2015 Draft by the St. Louis Blues. In his 328 AHL games, Gawdin has recorded a solid 85 goals and 151 assists.
Reilly Walsh started his career with the New Jersey Devils organization after being drafted 81st overall in the 2017 Draft. The defenseman had two back-to-back 40+ point seasons playing with the Utica Comets (AHL) but took a step back last season playing with the Providence Bruins (AHL). He signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 AAV.
Forward Shawn Element, 24, signed an AHL contract with the Reign for this upcoming season alongside John Parker-Jones. Element has spent his professional career playing for the Syracuse Crunch (AHL) and the Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL). He has nine points (4g, 5a) in 15 games for the Solar Bears and 41 points (20g, 21a) in 144 games with the Crunch. He also recorded a career-high 100 penalty minutes during last season with the Crunch.
John Parker-Jones, 24, played his first two professional seasons with the Montreal Canadiens organization. The forward split his time with the Laval Rocket (AHL) and the Trois-Rivières Lions (ECHL). He played in 22 games with the Rocket, recording two goals and one assist, and 72 games with the Lions, recording 15 goals and 11 assists, as well as a career-high 90 penalty minutes this past season.
