Kyle Garcia 
With the Ontario Reign season over, we will begin our player reviews for the 2025-26 season. Up next: Erik Portillo!
*Note: These player reviews will be for players who played at least five games with the Reign and finished the season with the team*
Season stats
Games: 30
Starts: 30
Record: 18-7-2-1
Goals against average: 2.45
Save percentage: .907
Shutouts: 1
Season review
Erik Portillo resumed his goaltending duties after missing the final two months of the 2024-25 campaign with a nagging back injury. Through treatment and rehab, Portillo was able to make his return to the ice and start opening night for the Reign.
In a 5-4 overtime loss, the story wasn’t about the goals allowed; it was about how great it was to see him back on the ice after not knowing when he would be back. In years past, I would track Portillo’s rebound control, as that had been a weak spot in his game, but instead I focused on his rhythm and feel in game action.
Oh Ports?!?! He’s CRUSHING it!!!🤩#ReignTrain | #TUCvsONT pic.twitter.com/HGYUGoaV8Z
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) October 11, 2025
While the rust was expected, Portillo played solidly to start the season until an injury in Calgary on November 12th knocked him out of action until January 4th. Returning to action, Portillo continued where he left off, but hit a rough patch late in the season, where he lost five consecutive starts in March.
Ports having the @ontarioreign‘s back right here! pic.twitter.com/R8O72hkBSY
— Paige Capistran (@paigecapistran) November 1, 2025
SAVE SO GOOD IT’S SCARY! 👻#ReignTrain | #ONTvsSJ pic.twitter.com/9sfJ8izgeq
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) November 1, 2025
For the playoffs, Portillo played exceptionally, posting a 2.14 GAA and .926 SV% in three starts, but was on the losing end in a double overtime defeat in a winner-take-all Game 5 against the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
Game saving stop by Portillo as they head to double OT in Ontario https://t.co/qYWDBgPwjO pic.twitter.com/1Ltuw7Ca9p
— Russell Morgan (@NHLRussell) May 10, 2026
Now comes the fun part: Portillo’s future. The Kings have five goalies under contract for next season, and Carter George and Hampton Slukynsky will begin their first full professional season and will need playing time.
Anton Forsberg and Darcy Kuemper are under contract for another year — as is Portillo — and are essentially blocking a path for Portillo. If the organization believes Portillo is ready, then one of those two will have to be traded because running it back isn’t an answer.
Featured image credit: Jon Huerta/Ontario Reign