What group of 20-something males doesn’t want to go to Coachella?
On Wednesday night, though, we’re talking hockey — not the more famous music festival.
After spending roughly two months on the road, the newly minted Coachella Valley Firebirds finally played their official home opener just a few weeks ago. Due to building delays at their new arena, the NHL’s Seattle Kraken affiliate had to begin their season with a makeshift home operation in Washington. Things are starting to settle into a more normal routine now, though. They’ve played three games in their new barn, collecting a 2-1 record in front of the desert valley faithful. Now, they’ll face Ontario for the first of eight times this season.
Coming out of the holiday break, Reign coach Marco Sturm will be looking to get his club back on the winning track. They had won three straight — and 6-of-7 — prior to a trip to Calgary last week, where they dropped both games by a combined score of 9-3.
Complicating things even further, Sturm will be without two big centers, as both Quinton Byfield and Rasmus Kupari are up with the LA Kings. This will cause a few shifts in the lineup, most notably it appears Sturm is going to have Alex Turcotte slide back over to center based on the way things have been aligned at practice of late.
NOTE: Last night, Mayor’s Manor editor John Hoven was on the Kings TV broadcast talking about Cal Petersen and the Ontario Reign. If you missed it, a free replay is available here.
ONTARIO REIGN PROJECTED LINEUP vs. COACHELLA VALLEY FIREBIRDS
Andersson – Tynan – Madden
Ward – Turcotte – Fagemo
Dudas – Thompson – Chromiak
Lee – Helenius – Wagner
Moverare – Gaunce
Bjornfot – Grans
Nousiainen – Allard
Petersen
Villalta
Game scratches: Bisson, Inamoto, Quine
Recalled to NHL: Byfield, Kupari, Spence
Out injured: Thomas, Doty
Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm PST tonight and the game can be viewed on AHL TV.
RELATED CONTENT:
VIDEO: Hoven on Kings Intermission Report via Bally Sports West
Sturm, McLellan, and Blake Seeing Positive Strides in Reshaping of Ontario Reign
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