Ontario Reign

Now I am going to expose myself. Well not in the way perverts would like but I am going to put it out into the world that one of my many gigs is as a minor league mascot for the ECHL. The East Coast Hockey League has a “AA” Minor League Affiliate for the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings Hockey Club in Ontario, California.

This is my second season as “Blaze” the Dragon, one of the 2 mascots for The Ontario Reign who play at Citizens Business Bank Arena in the Inland Empire. It’s a nice 1 hour train ride from Union Station on The Metrolink Train. (Shout out to METRO, a sponsor for Kings at Staples Center)

I am also the In-Arena Host for the KINGS. Which means I am the guy who makes appearances on the jumbotron during the games. One of my mom’s friends asked me “what do I do at the games?” I said “I’m the guy up on the jumbotron.” She looked dumbfounded and said “on the jumbotron? How do you get up there?” After a quick smirk I said ”well I do have a repelling harness under my Blazer for all home games.”

Back to the mascots! Some people wonder what a dragon and a knight have to do with the Rain but I have to explain it’s R-E-I-G-N as in Reign over a kingdom. The Dark Knight and Blaze (me) , who where named by the fans, entertain the fans and always get into trouble. The guy who brings the Dark Knight character to life has told me how likes to talk trash to the other team’s players when he skates out during the opening with the Reign flag at center Ice. He has told me that he loves it when players say they are going kick his ass. I’ve been the dragon for almost 100 games and never mingled with the players cause I’m always trying to mess with the kids or dance to the music being played by our DJ TOMMY.

Last week The Reign took on The Utah Grizzlies team which is an affiliate for The New York Islanders and Calgary Flames. I have been waiting for my chance to mess with someone and I found the right guy and pushed the right buttons. During our pre-game staff meeting with our Game Entertainment Crew one of our Reign Ice Girls told me that she heard one of the players for Utah (#71) is dating a girl named Pumpkin who was on one of the seasons of Flava Of Love. The girl who Spit on another girl named NEW YORK! I like to think of myself as an opportunist so I had to say… Yeaaaaaaaah Boooooooyyyyyeeeeee! Don’t … Don’t … Don’t Believe the Hype! Bass in Your Face!

This weekend was on of our marathon weekends with 3 games in a row, Friday Saturday and Sunday. So I might lose up to 7.2 pounds of sweat in one weekend if I don’t drink beer. It’s like to doing BIKRAM Yoga inside that dragon suit.

Now I wanted to take advantage of this insider information and plan my attack strategically. It was time to create signs to upset and disrupt this #71 so bad he won’t be able to focus on the game.
Before the Friday game one of the Reign Ice girls made a “Where is Pumpkin?” sign and made me a Huge Flava Flav clock to hand around Blaze’s neck “Fight The Power”. Not knowing this would be such a sore spot I went onward.

The game started and during the 2nd period I wore the clock around my dragon neck and walked the main concourse. Most fans were not aware of the connection with Flava Flav and this game but the response was awesome. People saw me and would just yell “FLAVA FLAV!” and “YEAH BOYYYYYEEE” and pump their wrists in awkward directions at the sky or towards their crotch.
Then the hockey gods granted my wish and the officials called a high Sticking Penalty on #71 and he landed in the penalty box for 2:00. The dark Knight and Blaze quickly sprang into action. There are two fans who sit right next to the box who bring small sarcastic signs like “Welcome to the Crying Room”. Then I showed him my clock and made some silly poses. He noticed and simply shuck his head in dismay ad breathed heavy in and out of his nose. It was my first encounter with a player from the other team besides this guy Hunt who the dark Knight always messes with.
The next night it was pouring rain (not Reign) and I rode my skateboard four blocks from the train station to the arena and was drenched by my arrival which made me miss the pre-game meeting. One of the Red Jacket CBBA security guards said that #71 had stopped by and saw the Pumpkin sign in one of our Game Entertainment rooms. He asked if there was going to be any new signs for him tonight? In my world, that’s just asking for it.

I had to come up with a sign that would push this guy over the proverbial edge. I was praying for him to spend some time in the penalty box that night.
During this game there was to be a wedding on the ice during the first intermission after a wedding expo took place in the arena earlier. There was a photo booth from Red Cheese photo Booth Rentals left over from the expo on the main concourse to mess around with so the Dark Knight and Blaze had some new headshots taken!

After the silly wedding took place the second period started. In this period not only did it effect his team but when #71 got another penalty and landed right back in the box it was a time of reckoning for his smart ass comment about making another sign. The Dark Knight and Blaze both headed straight for the penalty box and I showed him the new sign.

It read, “#71 is dating a diva who kissed FLAVA FLAV!” He was not happy about the sign or the fact that I put it up on the wall for everyone in the building to see.
Then more exciting action during the second intermission took place. While I was ATV riding and dancing out on the ice #71 was in the visitor’s locker room breaking things. From the story I got from our trainer I learned he broke a lamp and some ceiling tiles because of the sign I made. Awesome!

Then the Red Jacket security guard told me he came out of the locker room and stormed down the hallway looking for me. This guy was angry. Who does he think he is Prince Fielder?
On any given Sunday most of the building staff are usually telling me the things I cannot do in the arena and they forget that I am a mascot and I am supposed to be silly and cause trouble. But this evening the staff was coming to my rescue and most of them in the area were genuinely concerned for my well-being as if this guy was really going to hurt me.
I say bring it on. If I can get into to this semi-pro athlete’s head that easy then let him come after me and I’ll collect the check if he tries to hurt me. Then the Utah Grizzlies could one day be the jay Flat’s Grizzlies!

I wasn’t rattled and went on with my business as usual. I finished the game and took a long needed shower. We won our 5th straight game in style and I felt like I was apart of the victory. Not only did I get the crowd all hyped up but I also distracted one of their aggressive players.

I was actually hoping our Coach Karl Taylor would come and thank me but that’s just a boyish dream.

Shortly after the game was over a few of the disappointed Utah players were walking down the hall including #71. I don’t know how he knew I was Blaze but he looked right at me from the hallway and said, “$25 is worth kicking your butt”. I had no idea there was a price on my head, but apparently he was fined by the team for breaking things in our locker room. Yeah Boyyyyeeee!
Then only a few minutes later I was walking out with my fellow Game Entertainment Crew Members. As we walked to the top of the ramp behind the arena we see #71 is at the top with a few of his fellow teammates.

As I skate towards him he decides to keep the altercation going. He then says, “You mad a sign about me and you ride a skateboard, what a loser”.

I wish I was brave enough to this this…”First off I make more money than you and secondly I also work for the NHL which is more than you’ll ever be able to say” But I was the better man and kept going without a response. I had my victory when the Reign won their 5th straight game! I hope we meet these guys in the playoffs! FLAAAAAAVA FLAAAAAV!!!!!

GO REIGN GO!