OHL Kitchener Rangers

Gabe Landeskog, Ben Fanelli and Ben Thomson Return to Aud

Published on October 10, 2023 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


This is a game you won't want to miss! Stanley Cup Champion and former Kitchener Rangers Captain Gabriel Landeskog (Colorado Avalanche (C)) returns to the Aud for Alumni Night on Friday, October 13th!

Landeskog will be joined by former Rangers teammates, Ben Fanelli and Ben Thomson.

All three will participate in a ceremonial puck drop, and will participate in an autograph signing prior to the start of the game in Subscriber's Lounge. Fans are asked to limit autographs to 1 (one) item.

Autograph Signing:

Subscribers Lounge, from 6:00 - 6:50 p.m

Landeskog played for the Rangers for two seasons in 2009-2011 before going professional with the Colorado Avalanche. The Swedish native was third amongst all OHL rookies in points (24G, 22A) which landed him on the OHL First All-Rookie team in his freshman campaign. Landeskog helped lead the Rangers to the conference finals that season where they fell to Windsor in game seven. The following season he was named the first European-born captain of the Blueshirts. Landeskog proved to be an elite player in his NHL draft year tallying 36 goals and 30 assists in 53 games played. He went on to pave a successful career in the NHL after being drafted second overall by the Avalanche in 2011. Much like his career in Kitchener, it only took one season for the natural leader to be named the fourth-ever captain of Colorado and the youngest captain in NHL history before Connor McDavid in 2016. Landeskog has won the Calder Trophy (2012), an Olympic Silver Medal (2014), and the Stanley Cup (2021-22) in his young hockey career so far.

Fanelli, a defenseman spent five years with the Kitchener Rangers from 2009-14. In his first season with the team, he suffered what could have been a career-ending injury. Above all odds, Fanelli was able to return to the ice with the Rangers in 2011-12. In 2012-13, his fourth year with the Rangers he wore an A on his chest and became the first member of the Rangers' organization to earn the OHL and CHL Humanitarian of the Year award in 2013 for his tireless efforts in raising funds and awareness for head injuries through the initiative he created in March 2011 called Head Strong: Fanelli 4 Brain Injury Awareness. The following season and his last season with the Rangers he was promoted to Captain. Fanelli continues to be an advocate for mental health and brain injury research through his program "Heroic Minds" and a mentor for current Kitchener Rangers players through the Alumni Mentorship Program.

Also in the 2009-10 freshman class, joining Landeskog and Fanelli on Friday night is Ben Thomson. Thomson was a Ranger for just over four seasons before being traded to North Bay in his fifth season with the club. Thomson was an assistant captain with Fanelli in 2012-13 and 2013-14. The left-winger was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in 2012 in the fourth round. Since playing for the Rangers Thomson has made a career for himself in the American Hockey League (AHL), most recently playing for the Henderson Silver Knights (Vegas Golden Knights affiliate) in 2021-22.

Next up:

The Rangers will play at home on Sunday, October 15th against the Windsor Spitfires. Puck drop is set for 2:00 pm. Tickets are available at The Aud Box Office Sponsored by White Way Plumbing or online here.

Join the conversation on all things Rangers via social media using the hashtag #NewWave. Stay connected by following the Rangers on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter by searching @OHLRangers.

Check out the Kitchener Rangers Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 10, 2023


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