ECHL Hockey: Devin Setoguchi signs with Ontario Reign in California to play during NHL lockout

ONTARIO – One is the team’s newest addition, right wing Devin Setoguchi, who signed with the Reign while the NHL lockout prevents him from playing for the Minnesota Wild. Setoguchi, a Canadian native, is waiting to get his P-1 work visa.

Another is goalie J-F Berube, who is recovering from a broken bone in his right middle finger. The Reign are looking to sign an emergency backup goalie for tonight and Saturday night’s games in Las Vegas to back up starter Chris Carrozzi.

Signing Setoguchi was the more anticipated change. But predicting the processing time of immigration papers is a fool’s bet, and Setoguchi’s situation is no different.

adding that Hurricane Sandy further delayed the process.

After two days off, the Reign host the San Francisco Bulls on Wednesday, and that might be a more realistic target for Setoguchi’s debut. The Reign players already are looking forward to their new teammate arriving.

“With him,” forward Colton Yellow Horn said, “I’ve got probably four of my best friends here.”

Yellow Horn grew up in Brocket, Alberta, not far from Setoguchi’s home town of Taber. When he was 10, Yellow Horn moved in with Setoguchi and his family, and they played together on the same peewee hockey team. They’ve stayed close since.

NHL players don’t need references when applying for jobs in the ECHL, but knowing Yellow Horn helped funnel Setoguchi to the Reign. It also helped that Setoguchi lives in Southern California part of the year.

“He said he was looking to play somewhere,” Yellow Horn said.

via ECHL Hockey: Reign coming home soon – San Bernardino County Sun.