OHL Kitchener Rangers

Game Preview: Kitchener Takes on Oshawa in New Year's Day Game

Published on January 1, 2024 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


Oshawa, ON - The Kitchener Rangers start the New Year action on the road in Oshawa against the Generals on Monday for a 2:05 puck drop at The Tribute Communities Centre.

TV: Rogers Channel 20 (Kitchener)

Video Stream: OHL Live on CHL TV

Radio: 570 AM CKGL

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Last Meeting:

The Rangers and the Generals last met on March 1st in Oshawa last season. Kitchener won the game 6-4 with the following current Rangers recording points: Cameron Mercer (goal), Carson Rehkopf (assist), Simon Motew (assist), Filip Mešár (assist), Mitchell Martin (assist) and Matthew Sop (two assists). For the Generals, Stuart Rolofs had a goal and assist, Beckett Sennecke had a goal, Dylan Roobroeck had two assists, and Luca Marrelli, Matthew Buckley, and Luca D'Amato all grabbed assists.

Over the Years:

Over the last 10 games played between the two clubs dating back to the 2016-17 season the Rangers own a 5-4-1-0 record and when playing on the road in Oshawa they are 3-2-0-0. In this time the Rangers have netted 32 goals while the Generals have scored 30.

Team Statistics:

Kitchener is currently ranked fourth in the league's overall power play at 26.7% while Oshawa holds the 11th spot converting at 19.2%. When Oshawa is on home ice, they rise to seventh in the league at 23.9%.

The Rangers own the third-best penalty kill in the league at 82.4% and while on the road they drop to the 16th spot at 75%. The Generals own the sixth-best penalty kill at 81.6%.

The two clubs have a 62-goal differential with the Rangers having played 36 games scoring 173 goals while allowing 113. The Generals have 114 goals for and 108 goals against.

SCOUTING THE RANGERS (25-9-2-0)

1st in the Western Conference, 1st in the OHL / 4th in Week 10 of the CHL Power Rankings

Last Time Out:

The Rangers faced the Owen Sound Attack on the road on Saturday night coming out on top to finish the 2023 year with a 5-2 victory. The win was highlighted by Luke Ellinas, who with two goals, recorded his first multi-goal OHL game while Adrian Misaljevic had a goal and assist.

Rangers to Watch:

Hunter Brzustewicz is currently on a four-game point streak after collecting six assists. Brzustewicz this season has seven goals and 50 assists for 57 points to make him the leading OHL point-getter and the most points for CHL defencemen.

Matthew Sop has 22 goals and 32 assists for 54 points, ranking him fourth in points in the league. He also is currently in a four-way tie for most game-winning goals at six.

Adrian Misaljevic is placed fourth amongst the Rangers in points with a 20-19-39 stat line. Misaljevic recorded a goal and assist in Saturday's game against Owen Sound. He is also in a two-way tie for the most first goals in the league at seven.

SCOUTING THE GENERALS (15-13-3-1)

7th in the Eastern Conference, 14th in the OHL

Last Time Out:

The Generals head into the New Year with a 4-3 win on Sunday in North Bay against the Battalion. The Generals, took the Battalion to overtime with goals from Stuart Rolofs, Becket Sennecke, and Dylan Roobroeck scoring the game-tying goal and game winner.

Generals to Watch:

Dylan Roobroeck (New York Rangers) jumped up to the point leader spot for the Generals after scoring two goals yesterday against North Bay. He now has a 10-19-29 stat line. Last season against the Rangers Roobroeck registered two assists.

Connor Lockhart (Vancouver Canucks) has the second most points for the Generals in points with 15 goals and 13 assists for 28 points. Lockhart was traded from the rival Peterborough Petes on November 3rd and has played 17 games with the Generals this season. Lockhart was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the sixth round 178th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft. He has played against the Rangers in 11 games through his OHL career collecting 11 points through these games with two goals and nine assists.

Matthew Buckley is currently third in points for the Generals with 27 points (15G, 12A). Over the last 10 games, Buckley has recorded 10 points (5G, 5A) going pointless in only two of the games. In his most recent game against the Rangers on March 1st he recorded one assist.

Drafted Generals:

Calum Ritchie (Colorado Avalanche), Dylan Roobroeck (New York Rangers), Rasmus Kumpulainen (Minnesota Wild), and Connor Lockhart (Vancouver Canucks), are four Generals drafted to the NHL.

Rasmus Kumpulainen at World Juniors:

The Generals are missing key component Rasmus Kumpulainen (Minnesota Wild) in their lineup. The centreman has 14 goals and 13 assists for the Generals. He is currently competing for Team Finland and will be unavailable in the Generals lineup. Kumpulainen has suited up in four games for Finland and has yet to record a point.

BROADCAST COVERAGE

Monday's match vs the Oshawa Generals will not be televised live on Rogers TV, however, the game will be streamed live online on OHL Live on CHL TV. Additionally, fans can listen to Monday afternoon's action on the radio on CityNews 570 AM CKGL.

UP NEXT:

The Rangers will host the Saginaw Spirit for their Next Gen night on Thursday for the first home game of 2024. Puck drop is set for 7 pm at The Aud. Great seats are still available, don't miss the action against the 2024 Memorial Cup Hosts on Thursday and grab your tickets at The Aud Box Office sponsored by White Way Plumbing or online.

Check out the Kitchener Rangers Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 1, 2024


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