The Ontario Reign thrashed the San Jose Barracuda on Halloween, 6-1, in their first meeting since the Calder Cup playoffs.

Happy Halloween 😈#ReignTrain pic.twitter.com/CGNcLYHizW

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) November 1, 2025

Goal Breakdown

First period: 

ONT: Taylor Ward (4), ASST: Martin Chromiak (1), Glenn Gawdin (4)

SJ: PP Oliver Wahlstrom (1), ASST: Colin White (4), Luca Cagnoni (2)

Second period: 

ONT: Aatu Jamsen (3), ASST: Koehn Ziemmer (1), Angus Booth (1)

ONT: Samuel Bolduc (4), ASST: None

ONT: Jack Hughes (1), ASST: Koehn Ziemmer (2), Angus Booth (2)

ONT: Jakub Dvořák (1), ASST: Taylor Ward (3), Samuel Bolduc (2)

Third period: 

ONT: Kenny Connors (1), ASST: None

Stats

Goals: 

ONT: 6

SJ: 1

Shots: 

ONT: 23

SJ: 37

Power play: 

ONT: 0/4

SJ: 1/5

Here are the three takeaways from yesterday’s 6-1 victory: 

A game of firsts

It was a night to remember for the LA Kings prospects. Not one, not two, not three, but FOUR(!) prospects in the Kings’ pipeline recorded either their first professional point, goal, or North American goal.

Koehn Ziemmer, drafted in the third round in 2023 by the organization, recorded his first two professional points with two primary assists. Both of Ziemmer’s points were primary assists, but his first one was a great demonstration of how lethal his shot can be when he has time and gives himself space to pick his spot.

Ziemmer ➡️ Jammer = SUCCESS‼️👹#ReignTrain | #ONTvsSJ pic.twitter.com/Un5fQRd36K

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) November 1, 2025

Jack Hughes, drafted in the second round of the 2022 draft, is playing in his first professional season after four seasons in college at Northeastern and Boston University combined. Hughes recorded his first professional point with an assist in Abbotsford last week and found the back of the net last night. His first professional goal was on a rebound attempt at the side of the net to give the Reign a 3-1 lead in the middle frame. He has been very noticeable and an effective fourth-line center on this road trip.

FIRST PRO GOAL FOR JACK HUGHES!🙌#ReignTrain | #ONTvsSJ pic.twitter.com/CnA4ng37GF

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) November 1, 2025

Jakub Dvořák, drafted the same year as Ziemmer, scored his first professional goal in North America. Dvořák, in his second professional season in North America, is not known for his offense, was on the receiving end of a backdoor pass from Taylor Ward to extend the Reign’s lead to 5-1.

D-VO JOINS THE FIRST PRO GOAL CLUB!🤩#ReignTrain | #ONTvsSJ pic.twitter.com/Fa5fsu5nbq

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) November 1, 2025

Finally, we get to Kenny Connors. Like Hughes, his draft classmate in 2022, found the back of the net for his first professional goal. Connors was referred to as ‘Mr. Consistency’ by head coach Andrew Lord, after the team’s 3-2 win over Colorado two weeks ago, and finally got rewarded for his efforts on a fortunate turnover that landed on his stick in the slot. He has been a key cog in the bottom six, faceoff circle, and on the penalty kill.

THAT’S ANOTHER FIRST GOAL FOR KENNY CONNORS!!👏👏#ReignTrain | #ONTvsSJ pic.twitter.com/UsX6gblMNk

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) November 1, 2025

A night of firsts with, hopefully, many more to come as all four players chase their dream of making the National Hockey League.

A big night of firsts! 🖤 pic.twitter.com/fGYMEHOnkX

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) November 1, 2025

Erik Portillo makes 36 saves

Erik Portillo manned the net again and had his best performance of the season. Portillo made a season-high 36 saves, backstopping the Reign to a victory. It was Portillo’s best game of the season, as he is navigating his way back from a back injury that knocked him out for the final two months of the season last year.

Although Portillo would probably like to have the only goal he allowed —being unable to track and cover a low shot that slowly went on goal along the ice —he had an excellent game. He made key saves when the game was tied and tracked the puck well as the game went along. He’s allowed two goals or fewer in five straight games, compiling a .927 save percentage in that stretch.

Ports having the @ontarioreign‘s back right here! pic.twitter.com/R8O72hkBSY

— Paige Capistran (@paigecapistran) November 1, 2025

SAVE SO GOOD IT’S SCARY! 👻#ReignTrain | #ONTvsSJ pic.twitter.com/9sfJ8izgeq

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) November 1, 2025

When it Reigns, it pours

The five-game road trip couldn’t have started well for the Reign offense. They’ve played four games and have scored five or more in three of those contests. They’ve averaged over four goals per game (4.5) in that small sample size. 11 skaters have scored at least one goal, 16 skaters have recorded at least one point, and six skaters have either recorded their first AHL goal or point.

Ontario has gone 3-1-0-0 on this five-game rodeo. Getting a possible eight out of 10 points would be a successful road trip, given the way they have been playing.

NOTES:

*Taylor Ward recorded his fourth goal in three games.

A Cuda hate to see Wardo coming!!😈#ReignTrain | #ONTvsSJ pic.twitter.com/kU1oDH2kwt

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) November 1, 2025

*Samuel Bolduc’s goal ties Ryan Ufko (Milwaukee Admirals) for most goals by a defenseman in the AHL.

Boldy wants a slice of Cuda😋🐟#ReignTrain | #ONTvsSJ pic.twitter.com/xHXgzRUjV7

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) November 1, 2025

*Aatu Jamsen loves playing against the Barracuda. His second-period tally, and the eventual game-winning goal, was his fifth goal in seven career games against the Barracuda.

*The Reign penalty kill went 4-for-5 (80%) but has allowed a goal in four straight games. That unit ranks 26th out of 32 teams in the AHL. Simply put: they need to be better.

*This game got spicy from the midway point on. I wouldn’t be surprised if the bad blood spills over into tonight’s game.

That’s how you play the body @ontarioreign pic.twitter.com/GHeDhEVm24

— Paige Capistran (@paigecapistran) November 1, 2025

Photo credit: Andreaa Cardani/San Jose Barracuda

UP NEXT: These two teams meet again tonight for the second of three straight meetings. Puck drops at 6 PM PST and can be seen on FloHockey. If you can’t watch, you can listen to the game on the Ontario Reign radio network or the ESPN LA app.

Featured image credit: Andreaa Cardani/San Jose Barracuda

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