ONTARIO REIGN SIGNS FIRST-EVER PLAYER TO ROSTER SPOT
Local So-Cal player David Walker joins Reign Roster
ONTARIO, Calif. – The Ontario Reign of the ECHL, proud affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings, announced today the signing of Defenseman David Walker as the first-ever player in Ontario Reign history. Per Club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Walker, 29, skates onto the Reign’s roster after spending the past year with the Laredo Bucks of the CHL. While with the Bucks, Walker accrued 15 points (1g, 14a) in 38 games and accumulated 88 penalty minutes.
The 6-foot, 200-pound Bridgewater, Nova Scotia native made his home in Long Beach, Calif. nearly five years ago when he made his professional hockey debut in 2004-05 with the former Long Beach Ice Dogs of the ECHL. While with the Ice Dogs until the 2006-07 season, Walker played in 181 games netting 47 points (8g-39a) and amassing 352 penalty minutes. Walker led the Ice Dogs with 151 penalty minutes during 2006-07.
“It feels good to be back in Southern California,” said Walker. “I feel comfortable playing for the people in charge of the organization; from Justin and Barry Kemp to Karl [Taylor] and the Los Angeles Kings. [California] is my home now and it is a place I can rest my hat. I am happy to play with a team here again and to be closer to my family. I came out to California about five years ago with the intention of winning a championship; this is just another opportunity to bring one home.”
Prior to suiting up for the Ice Dogs, Walker played four years (2000-04) for Dalhousie University (CIS) in Halifax, Nova Scotia where he appeared in 106 games and netted 15 goals and 36 assists. Walker also played for the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL from 1996-00 where, in his second year, he racked up 226 penalty minutes in only 41 games.
“We are pleased to have David join the Reign,” Head Coach Karl Taylor said. “He is a great addition to the team and with his experience playing professional hockey he will be able to use his skill to help the younger players develop.”
ECHL
Began in 1988-89 with five teams playing in four states, the Premier ‘AA’ Hockey League has grown into a coast-to-coast league that will have 23 teams in 16 states and British Columbia playing 828 games from Oct. 17, 2008 to Apr. 4, 2009. Eighteen of the 23 teams have played at least five years in their current city.
The third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League, the ECHL averaged 4,174 per game last season, marking the fourth year in row and the 16th time in the last 18 years that the league has averaged over 4,000 fans. The league has drawn over four million fans each of the last five years and 11 times in the past 12 seasons.
There have been 355 former ECHL players who have gone on to play in the NHL after playing in the ECHL, including 99 in the last three seasons. There have been 210 former ECHL players who have played their first game in the NHL in the past seven season.
REIGN DROPS
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Season tickets and mini-plans for the Ontario Reign’s Inaugural season presented by the Mission Inn (
Mission Inn Hotel - Riverside California) are on sale now and offer an affordable entertainment option for families and residents of the Inland Empire. All full-season tickets include parking and access to all thirty-six home games starting at only $332, a savings of up to 25% off regular ticket prices! Mini plans begin at only $99 and include savings of up to 10% off walk-up prices! For more information about Reign season tickets or mini-plans contact the Reign office at (909) 941-PUCK (7825) or visit
ontarioprohockey.com: Splash.
Visit the Reign on the web at
ontarioprohockey.com: Splash for all of the latest news surrounding Ontario Reign Professional Hockey.
Ontario reign signs first-ever player to roster spot 
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