Ontario led wire-to-wire and built a three-goal cushion in the first period that proved to be too much for Tucson to overcome. Jacob Doty opened the scoring just 2:53 into the match before Martin Chromiak and Glenn Gawdin punched each other eight seconds apart midway through the frame to give the Reign a 3-0 lead at 10:34.
In his first game in two weeks after missing time due to injury, Rooney scored Tucson’s only goal on the power play at 14:10 of the second period, deflecting a shot past Phoenix Copley to cut the deficit to two. Cameron Hebig and Sammy Walker each recorded an assist on goal. Hebig’s help marked his 91st career assist with Tucson, tying Kyle Capobianco for second all-time in franchise history.
Ontario sealed the victory with two unanswered goals in the third period, including Aatu Jämsen’s power-play tally with six minutes left and Francesco Pinelli’s empty-net goal with 2:30 remaining.
Despite the loss, the Roadrunners remain in seventh place in the Pacific and still hold the final playoff spot in the division.
HIGHLIGHTS
TEAM NOTES
- Tucson has scored a power-play goal in four of the last five games dating back to Jan. 25 in Henderson, going 4-for-14 (28.6%) in that span.
- The Roadrunners have outscored opponents 10-1 in the second period over their last seven games dating back to Jan. 21 versus San Diego.
- Tucson has scored in five straight games in the second period.
- The Roadrunners have scored 47 second-period goals this season, tied with Ontario for second in the Pacific Division and two behind San Jose (49).
- Tucson’s goal difference of +11 in the second period ranks second in the Pacific Division, behind only Ontario (+12).
INDIVIDUAL COMMENTS
- Cameron Hebig recorded his 21st assist of the season, tying his career high set in 2025-2026.
- Wednesday’s assist marked Hebig’s team-high 12th power play point of the season (5g, 7a).
- Greedy has recorded an assist in consecutive games and in three of his last four games dating back to Jan. 28 in San Diego.
- Greedy has recorded a point in all three games against Ontario this season and has four points (1g, 3a) in the season series.
- Sammy Walker has scored a point in all three games against Ontario this season and leads the Roadrunners in the season series with five points (2g, 3a).
- Kevin Rooney has scored in all three matches against the Reign this season for a total of three goals.
THE REPORT
FIRST PERIOD
Tucson fell behind early when Ontario forward Jacob Doty broke in alone on a breakaway and beat goaltender Jaxson Stauber with a snap shot past the blocker just 2:53 into the game.
The Roadrunners responded almost four minutes later when Kevin Rooney danced through several Reign defenders, but his forehand attempt from the slot was denied by goalkeeper Pheonix Copley.
Ontario seized the momentum midway through the period and scored twice in a span of eight seconds, extending the lead to three. At 10:26, a dump-in from defenseman Kirill Kirsanov created an odd bounce off the glass, allowing Martin Chromiak to fire a shot into an open net from the right low circle. Just eight seconds later, on a designed faceoff play, Chromiak gave Glenn Gawdin a one-timer in the Roadrunners zone that beat Stauber’s glove side to make it 3-0 at 10:34.
Tucson controlled possession late in the period, outscoring Ontario 4-1 in the final five minutes and holding an 8-7 advantage in shots after 20 minutes.
SECOND PERIOD
The opening five minutes featured strong goal-scoring work from Stauber, who made three key saves from Reign forwards, including a stick stop on Kaleb Lawrence from the top of the crease.
Tucson generated quality looks as the period progressed, with defenseman Maveric Lamoureux producing the Roadrunners’ best chance on a backdoor opportunity that was denied by Copley’s blocker. On Tucson’s first power play of the period, Daniil But fired a wrist shot from the top of the point that deflected off the left post.
The Roadrunners broke through later in the frame. On a subsequent power play, Kevin Rooney deflected Cameron Hebig’s shot from the right circle past Copley to cut the deficit to two at 14:10.
Tucson controlled possession in the final minutes of the period in Ontario’s defensive zone. Both teams headed into the final frame with the Roadrunners trailing by two, with shots as high as 16 apiece after 40 minutes.
THIRD PERIOD
Both teams’ defense shined early in the final frame, as neither side made a shot until 7:54, when Stauber denied Nikita Alexandrov from the top of the crease and covered the puck with his glove.
Tucson nearly pulled in at the other end moments later when Hebig ripped a shot from the right faceoff circle that deflected off the left post.
Despite abandoning an early Ontario power play, the Reign capitalized on their second man-advantage opportunity of the period. Aatu Jämsen beat Stauber’s glove side from the left circle to extend the lead with six minutes remaining.
Francesco Pinelli sealed the outcome with an empty-net goal at 5:31 p.m., capping off a 5-1 Ontario win.
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