For the second time in four years, an American Hockey League team shall face an opponent from Europe.

In 2014, Swedish outfit Farjestad BK played an exhibition game against the Toronto Marlies and then went toe-to-toe with an AHL-All Star team in a skills competition and a ‘competitive’ game the following evening hosted in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

On February 13, 2018 it’s the turn of German side Eisbären Berlin to visit North America.
Their hosts will be the Ontario Reign, affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings.
In what’s being dubbed the International “Frozen Friendly,” it’s a coming together of two teams both owned by AEG (Anschutz Entertainment Group).

It‘s not the first time AEG have engaged in such a venture, with the Los Angeles Kings playing at the O2 (also owned by AEG) in a pair of games against the Anaheim Ducks to begin the 2007-08 season.

The German league shuts down for a three week Olympic break next February, providing Eisbären Berlin with this unique opportunity.
The game will be held at Citizens Business Bank Arena (home of the Ontario Reign) around the time when the AHL usually looks to showcase it’s best talent in the All-Star event.
Whether the league will chose to go down the same route as in 2014 with Farjestad BK is unknown but I’d suggest that not having an All-Star event isn’t on Dave Andrews agenda.

“This is indeed a historical event that we are very proud to help host,” said Kings President Luc Robitaille. “It will be a great experience for our fans here in Southern California to be a part of something so unique. We look forward to welcoming the players and staff of our Berlin club here to Southern California while presenting a quality, competitive game for everyone involved.”

This event in part, is being used to celebrate the Ontario Reign’s tenth season in existence, the majority of those as an ECHL team before LA management chose to flip their affiliates.

Eisbären Berlin certainly won’t be pushovers having enjoyed much success in recent seasons and have North American experience in the boardroom, behind the bench and on the ice.
Eisbären Managing Director Peter John Lee has served in the position since 2002 after three years as Head Coach. Originally a first round draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens in 1976, Lee has a 19 year playing career that encompassed 431 NHL games and clinching a Calder Cup Championship.

Current Head Coach Uwe Krupp won a Calder Cup championship during his first season in North American hockey before going on to claim a Stanley Cup ring with Colorado in 1996, scoring the clinching goal.

This game will mark the return of forward Sean Backman to Ontario.
The New York native set the all-time AHL-Reign single-season points mark in 2015-16 with 55 points (21 goals, 34 assists) in 68 games. He spent four seasons with the organisation and was part of the Manchester Monarchs team that won a Calder Cup during their final season in the AHL.

The Berlin Polar Bears will have several other familiar names amongst their roster including centre man James Shepperd, whose NHL career spanned 394 with stints for Minnesota, San Jose and New York Rangers.
Defenseman Micki DuPont played 23 times in the NHL and is now back for his second stint with the German outfit.
Louis Marc-Aubry is taking his fist steps in European hockey having played almost 350 games for Grand Rapids, leaving for German earlier this year before the Griffins were crowned Calder Champions.