Andrew MacNiel Scores Twice to Hand Rangers Crucial Game 1 Victory on Home Ice
OHL Kitchener Rangers

Andrew MacNiel Scores Twice to Hand Rangers Crucial Game 1 Victory on Home Ice

Published on May 7, 2026 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


Kitchener Rangers exchange congratulations along the bench
Kitchener Rangers exchange congratulations along the bench
(Kitchener Rangers)

Kitchener, Ont. - It was the depth of the Rangers that came through on Wednesday night with Andrew MacNiel scoring a pair, including the game winning goal and an insurance marker from Cameron Arquette. Kitchener was able to keep the high-powered power play of the Barrie Colts at bay going a perfect three-for-three on the penalty kill. Christian Kirsch was stellar in the Rangers goal making 25 stops en route to a 5-2 opening game victory for the Blueshirts.

Andrew MacNiel's first goal of the night opened the games scoring and was the lone goal from the opening 20 minutes of play. Ben Wilmott also scored twice in the game accounting for both of Barrie's goals sandwiched between by Dylan Edwards' twelfth goal of the playoffs. The teams were even at 2-2 through 40 minutes of play, but the Rangers would score three unanswered in the final frame to take the victory. MacNiel was able to find another puck passed the crowd of players in front of the Barrie net to give Kitchener their third lead of the night. Cameron Arquette doubled Kitchener's advantage just under four minutes later, with Sam O'Reilly sealing the deal with an empty net goal with under two minutes to play in regulation.

Attendance: 7,124

Scoring Summary:

First Period

BAR 0 - KIT 1

10:45 Andrew MacNiel (1) - Cameron Arquette, Alexander Bilecki

Second Period

BAR 1 - KIT 1

3:21 Ben Wilmott (10) - Mason Zebeski, Emil Hemming

BAR 1 - KIT 2

11:33 Dylan Edwards (12) - Luca Romano, Jack Pridham

BAR 2 - KIT 2

15:44 Ben Wilmott (11) - Kashawn Aitcheson, Mason Zebeski

Third Period

BAR 2 - KIT 3 - GWG

4:19 Andrew MacNiel (2) - Unassisted

BAR 2 - KIT 4

7:50 Cameron Arquette (5) - Matthew Andonovski, Jared Woolley

BAR 2 - KIT 5 - ENG

18:41 Sam O'Reilly (15) - Christian Humphreys

The Numbers Game:

Shots: BAR 27 - KIT 32

Power play: BAR 0/3 - KIT 0/0

FO%: BAR 55% - KIT 45%

The Starting Goalies:

Ben Hrebik (BAR) - 27/31 Saves, Four Goals Against, Loss

Christian Kirsch (KIT) - 25/27 Saves, Two Goals Against, Win

UP NEXT:

Following Game 1, the Blueshirts will remain on home ice for Game 2 on Friday, May 8th, with puck drop set for 7:00 p.m. at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. The Rangers will then travel to Barrie to face the Colts for Games 3 and 4, beginning on Sunday, May 10th.

Check out the Kitchener Rangers Statistics

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Kitchener Rangers exchange congratulations along the bench
Kitchener Rangers exchange congratulations along the bench
   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from May 7, 2026


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