San Diego Sabers Suffer Tough Loss in Exhibition

Ontario Center Ice Arena - Saturday, September 16, 2023

The San Diego Sabers had a challenging night on the ice as they faced the Ontario Jr Reign at the Ontario Center Ice Arena. The final scoreline of 7-1 in favor of Ontario Jr Reign does not tell the full story of the Sabers' effort and determination, especially in the face of a dominant Ontario team.

The game kicked off with a relatively balanced first period, during which Sabers' forward Ouellet netted a goal at 14:54, giving San Diego an early lead. However, the momentum was short-lived as both teams found themselves in the penalty box, resulting in numerous power plays and disrupted play.

The second period proved to be the turning point, with the Ontario Jr Reign going on a scoring spree. Shakirov, Fiolleau, Kemp, Lai, and Lam contributed to Ontario's impressive run. The Sabers found it difficult to contain Ontario's offensive onslaught, which resulted in a 6-1 deficit by the end of the period.

Tensions flared towards the end of the second period, leading to a major altercation between Heskett of San Diego and Wolfe of Ontario, resulting in disqualifications for both players.

The Sabers fought hard in the third period but were unable to mount a significant comeback. Ontario's Welsh added one more goal at 5:55, further extending their lead.

Despite the scoreline, the Sabers showcased moments of resilience and determination throughout the game. However, they struggled to generate offensive opportunities and were outshot by Ontario Jr Reign 55 to 16. The power play was also a challenge for San Diego, as they went 0 for 6 on their man-advantage opportunities.

In the goaltending department, Perry of the Sabers faced a barrage of shots, making an impressive 48 saves, but the sheer volume of shots proved difficult to handle. On the other side, Arenal of Ontario had a strong performance, stopping 15 of the 16 shots he faced.

The game was not without its share of physicality and penalties, reflecting the intensity of the competition. Shakirov of Ontario Jr Reign received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and there were several instances of tripping, slashing, and cross-checking throughout the match.

While the final result was not in their favor, the San Diego Sabers will use this game as a learning experience and motivation to come back stronger in their home opener on September 30th in Carlsbad, CA. 

• Final Score: San Diego Sabers 1, Ontario Jr Reign 7
• Shots on Goal: San Diego Sabers 16, Ontario Jr Reign 55
• Power Play Efficiency: San Diego Sabers 0/6, Ontario Jr Reign 3/6
• Goalies: San Diego Sabers - Perry (48 saves), Ontario Jr Reign - Arenal (15 saves)