Fans lined up for a chance to see the Stanley Cup …

Four hours before the Stanley Cup was on display Friday at the LA/Ontario International Airport, Cassandra Duong was lined up with her family, eager to take her picture and show her support for hockey.

“This is the hardest achievement to ever get,” said Duong, an Ontario resident. “This is the hardest trophy to obtain. All the work and dedication that any hockey team has to go through to get this, it should be well respected.”

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Via Bill Norris

On a cloudy Friday afternoon, the crowd outside Los Angeles/Ontario International Airport drove home the point:

Ontario is a hockey town.

As fans lined up to see the Stanley Cup, some of the final puzzle pieces were being put into place as the Kings and Reign announced that Los Angeles was taking full control of the Ontario franchise, and that it would become the team’s American Hockey League affiliate.

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LANG hockey writer Elliott teaford breaks down the NHL West Coast teams moving their AHL affiliates to California …

The American Hockey League’s California migration became official Thursday. The Kings will shift their top minor-league team from Manchester, N.H., to Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario and theDucks will move theirs from Norfolk, Va., to the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego.

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Via Bill Norris …

A little rest did the Ontario Reign some good after all.

The Reign returned to action after six days off by winning three of their last four games to head into the All-Star break tied for first in the Pacific Division with the Idaho Steelheads.

With the break for the All-Star game, the Reign will be off until Jan. 27, and won’t return to action at Citizens Business Bank Arena until Jan. 28.

And when they return to the ice in Ontario, the team’s future may become clearer, as Ontario’s long-speculated move to the American Hockey League is expected to become official at the AHL meetings Jan. 25.

And with it, a new era for Ontario hockey will begin.

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Just in from the Reign:

“The Ontario Reign announced today that Cameron Burt is back with the Reign for the third time.

“I’m really looking forward to playing in Ontario and taking another run at the Kelly Cup Championship with a strong team,” Burt said.

Burt, 26, made his professional debut with Ontario at the end of 2011-12 and returned for his full rookie campaign in 2012-13. The Detroit, MI native, a natural forward, stepped up and played defense last year, a position he had little experience in, only 30 games as a junior. Burt not only held his own at the blue line, but was a standout as the highest scoring defenseman for the Reign and second highest scoring rookie defenseman in the ECHL.

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound skater earned 38 points (2g, 36a) in 61 games and finished the season with a plus-minus rating of +18. His impressive performance in 2012-13 earned Burt a spot on the All-ECHL Rookie team.

“Looking at this next season, I want to improve the physical side of my game and gain more experience playing with the veteran players that are on the team,” Burt said.

ONTARIO – The Ontario Reign announced on Wednesday the signing of Kings left wing Kyle Clifford.

Clifford, 21, appeared in 85 games and recorded 12 points (five goals, seven assists) and 123 penalty minutes with the Kings during their Stanley Cup winning 2011-12 season. During their playoff run he skated in three games.

An Ayr, Ontario, native, Clifford was a second round draft pick (35th overall) for the Kings in 2009.

Clifford made his professional debut with the Manchester Monarchs during the 2009-10 postseason. He played in seven games and recorded two assists. He made his NHL debut with the Kings in 2010-11 playing in 76 games. He posted 14 points and 141 penalty minutes. He played six games in the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs and earned five points (three goals, two assists).

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound left, ranked first in penalty minutes for the Kings and second in the NHL for rookies with 141. He also came in fourth on the team for hits with 138.

The Reign play at San Francisco on Friday and at Bakersfield on Saturday before returning home to take on the Orlando Solar Bears on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. at Citizens Business Bank Arena.