Reign add two rookies to camp roster.

So yeah, about those late roster adds I mentioned earlier …

Luke Popko is one.

The New Jersey native and U.S. Under-18 National Development team product is coming off a four-year career at Boston University, where he became known as a defensive specialist. BU is one of the NCAA’s premier programs and captured the Division I championship in 2009. Four of his college teammates already have NHL experience: Matt Gilroy, Brandon Yip, Colin Wilson and Nick Bonino.

Popko’s career has been unusually well-documented. See this blurb from 2005 and this one from March.

The other is Daniel Lombardi, a diminutive winger who just completed a five-year career in the Canadian junior leagues. Splitting last season between the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves and the QMJHL’s Gatineau Olympiques, Lombardi had six goals and 14 points in 22 games.

Both players are in camp on a tryout basis, along with Josh Newton, Gabriel Andre and Mike Thomson. They figure to have a small window of opportunity, especially once players begin arriving from the American Hockey League.

Tomorrow’s editions of the Sun and Daily Bulletin will offer a broad rundown on the first day of camp.

 

This entry was posted in Ontario Reign/ECHL and tagged , by J.P. Hoornstra. Bookmark the permalink.

About J.P. Hoornstra

J.P. Hoornstra covers the Dodgers, Angels and Major League Baseball for the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Torrance Daily Breeze, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, San Bernardino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Whittier Daily News and Redlands Daily Facts. Before taking the beat in 2012, J.P. covered the NHL for four years. UCLA gave him a degree once upon a time; when he graduated on schedule, he missed getting Arnold Schwarzenegger's autograph on his diploma by five months.