ONTARIO, CA – Kings forward Kyle Clifford has signed with the Kings ECHL affiliate the Ontaio Reign.
Clifford, 21, joins the Reign after spending the 2011-12 season with the Los Angeles Kings. He appeared in 85 games and recorded 12 points (5-7=12) and 123 penalty minutes with the Kings. During their playoff run he skated in three games.
A native of Ayr, Ontario, 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 (7-7=14) and 141 penalty minutes. He played six games in the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs and earned five points (3-2=5).
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound left wing will bring size and toughness to the Reign in addition to two seasons of NHL experience. In his rookie season, Clifford 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.
Clifford was a Kings second round draft pick, 35th overall, in 2009.
From 2007-10 the left winger played at the major junior level with the Barrie Colts. While with the Colts he recorded 100 points (45-55=100) and 327 penalty minutes in 184 games. In his final year with the Colts, Clifford helped them advance to the OHL Championship Finals before falling to the Windsor Spitfires.
After being eliminated he played with the Monarchs (AHL) and help them advance to the AHL’s Eastern Conference Finals.
