The Growing ECHL

The ECHL has expanded to Ontario, and the Ontario-based team has decided on a name: the Ontario Reign! Ok, let me clarify this. The ECHL awarded a franchise via relocation to the city of Ontario, California for play in the 2008-09 ECHL season. The Reign, who are the Kings' ECHL affiliate, held a Name-The-Team Contest to determine the new team's identity. In keeping with the royalty theme throughout the Kings organization, the Ontario-based team was officially named as "Reign" on December 12, 2007. The Reign are set to become the 26th ECHL team.

The city of Ontario, California is located 35 miles east of Los Angeles, and is located within the hub of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. Ontario is California's 23rd largest city, has a population of approximately 200,000 people withn the metro Ontario area, and is United Parcel Service's Western Regional Hub. It also is home to the Ontario Mills shopping mall, the largest mall in Southern California. The city was named by Canadian engineers George Chaffey and William Chaffey, who named the settlement after their home province of Ontario, Canada.

The economy of Ontario is largely based on the service industries and warehousing. The Maglite corporation, who manufacture high-powered flashlights, is based there, remnants of a declining manufacturing industry. The Anschutz Entertainment Group will manage the operations of the newly-built Citizens Business Bank Arena, an 11,000-seat facility that will house the Reign. Of course, AEG also runs the Kings, and they operate and manage a number of arenas across the globe.

Ok, enough with the history. Let's get to the future. The Reign logo was designed by Keith Flynn of Flynnagain Productions in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. The Name-The-Team Contest's winning entry was submitted by Mike Brewster of Fontana, California.

"This logo represents everything the Ontario Reign stands for," said Justin Kemp, Executive Vice-President of Business Development for the Ontario Reign. "The fierce image signifies strength, intimidation and power carrying on the Los Angeles Kings’ royal tradition."

Personally, I think the logo is pretty good. I'm not completely sold on the colours of navy, orange and silver, but there have been no mentions made of the jersey design yet. I'll reserve the right to criticize the team's look until that time... if it is warranted.

Congratulations to the people of Ontario, hockey fans in Southern California, and Los Angeles Kings' fans! You have another team to cheer for in the Los Angeles area, and you might get to see some of the future Kings before they don the purple and silver!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!