GAMEDAY: BARRACUDA AT REIGN
Apr 25, 2021
SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (12-11-4-2) vs ONTARIO REIGN (10-17-4-0)
SUN., APRIL 25 | 3:00 P.M. | Toyota Sports Performance Center | El Segundo, CA
LISTEN | WATCH | GAME NOTES
Tale of the Tape: The Barracuda return to the road for one game on Sunday in El Segundo against the Ontario Reign. Sunday marks the final game of four between the two clubs in the regular season. The Barracuda are 3-0 against the LA Kings affiliate so far this year and 1-0 at the Toyota Sports Performance Center. Entering Sunday, the Reign have dropped five-straight (0-3-2) on home ice.
Blichfeld Back-Up: The Sharks recalled Joachim Blichfeld on Friday, his second recall this season. Before the call, the sophomore forward was pacing the Barracuda in goals (12), points (22), shots (118, 1st in the AHL) and was tied for first in power-play goals (2). The Barracuda went 2-1-1-0 from March 3 thru March 9 when Blichfeld was up with the Sharks earlier this season. The Denmark native has skated in three games up top this year and has appeared in six in his career.
900 Club: Veteran captain Brett Sutter became just the 14th player in AHL history to reach 900 games played on April 16 against Bakersfield. The 33-year-old is in the middle of his 14th professional season and fifth full season in Ontario. The son of Flames head coach Daryl Sutter has played for Quad City Flames, Abbotsford Heat, Charlotte Checkers, Iowa Wild and Reign in his career, totaling 403 points (168+235=403).
Prized Possessions: Quinton Byfield, Alex Turcotte, Rasmus Kupari, Akil Thomas, Samuel Fagemo and Arthur Kaliyev headline the Kings’ top prospects currently with the Reign. Byfield, who was selected by LA second overall last year, is the highest draft pick by the Kings since they took Drew Doughty second overall in 2008. Turcotte was taken 5th overall in 2019 and Kupari was selected 20th overall by the Kings in 2018.
Coming Home: Barracuda forwards Jake McGrew and Evan Weinger grew up playing at the Toyota Performance Center in El Segundo while playing for the Los Angeles Jr. Kings. Weinger grew up in El Segundo and even attended both the Kings development camp and training camp in 2017 before signing with the Barracuda before the 2018-19 season.
Friends to Foes: Barracuda defensemen Jake Middleton and Chaz Reddekopp were both drafted by the LA Kings in the seventh round in 2014 and 2015 respectively. Middleton never signed with the Kings but did skate with their ECHL affiliate the Manchester Monarchs in two games at the end of the 2015-16 season before signing with the Barracuda in 2016-17. Reddekopp skated in 65 games with the Reign from 2018-20.