Ontario Reign vs San Diego Gulls

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Southern California is not supposed to be a hockey region, and the two sets of fans yelling across the aisles on this particular night stopped finding that funny a while ago. They have a grudge now. It is real.

Ontario belongs to the Kings, San Diego belongs to the Ducks, and the rivalry the parent clubs have run for decades gets handed down intact to young players trying to earn their way up out of it. The Gulls travel well, which means the building is genuinely split and loud from the anthem forward.

A December Saturday at Toyota Arena. Fast, physical, cheap, and close enough to the glass that you can hear what the players are saying to each other.

Wear your colors. Bring somebody from the other end of the freeway and make them regret it in the friendliest possible way.