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OHL Kitchener Rangers

Game Preview: Kitchener Travels to Niagara for a Mid-Week Matchup

October 18, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


St. Catharines, ON - After posting an 11-2 victory over Windsor at home on Sunday afternoon, the Rangers will travel to St. Catharines to face the Niagara IceDogs on Wednesday night. Puck drop is set for 7 pm at the Meridian Centre.

TV: Rogers Channel 20 (Kitchener)

Video Stream: OHL Live on CHL TV

Radio:570 AM CKGL

Head- to-Head:

The Rangers hold a 5-2-1-0 record against the IceDogs since the 2017-18 season and are 2-1-1-0 in their last four meetings in Niagara. This will be the first of two meetings between the two clubs this season.

The Rangers and IceDogs last faced off on February 4th, 2023, in Niagara, where the Rangers came out on top 6-5. Carson Rehkopf (Seattle) and Hunter Brzustewicz (Vancouver) were prominent in this win as the two of them tallied a goal and two assists each. Rehkopf was awarded the first star of the game thanks to his game-winning goal and Brzustewicz was named the second star.

Kitchener is coming off back-to-back blowout wins on the weekend against Barrie and Windsor. In those two games, the Rangers recorded a total of 19 goals for and two against. The Blueshirts are currently ranked fifth in the OHL standings with a record of 5-2-0-0.

Niagara hosted Kingston on Saturday night, where the IceDogs were able to grab their first win of the season, for a score of 4-0. Niagara is now placed 17th in the OHL rankings with a record of 1-3-2- 0.

Scouting the Rangers:

The East Avenue Blue are leading the OHL as top point-getters with three skaters placed in the top five. Adrian Misaljevic currently sits in first place with 14 points (7G, 7A), Rehkopf is in third with 13 points (7G, 6A), and Brzustewicz is right up there with the forwards in fifth with 13 points (4G, 9A) while also leading all defensemen in points and assists.

Misaljevic and Rehkopf are tied for first in goals scored for the Rangers and the OHL with seven a piece. Misaljevic started a three-game point streak on Sunday after getting three points (2G, 1A) against Windsor. He has recorded at least one point in six of the last seven games played and averaging two points per game. Rehkopf has also started a three-game point streak after grabbing nine points (5G, 4A) in the past three games.

Leading the blueline for the Rangers and the OHL is Brzustewicz with his four goals and nine assists. He is currently on a four-goal game streak and is on track to surpass his 2022-23 season goal total of six in only the second month of the season.

Scouting the IceDogs:

The IceDogs have three skaters tied for the most points on the team. Returning forward Kevin He (3G, 1A), Alex Assadourian (1G, 3A), and Mathieu Paris (1G, 3A).

He recorded two goals in Saturday's contest against Kingston and was awarded the game's second star. Attackers(?), Gavin Bryant, and Evan Klein both recorded a goal to help the IceDogs get their first win of the season. First-year winger Ivan Galiyanov recorded his first and second OHL points against Kingston with two assists in the match.

Returning Goaltender Owen Flores recorded his first shutout of the season which bolstered his save percentage to .918 and goals-against average to 2.53 over his four games played.

Marcus Vandenberg will face his old team for the first time since being traded to Niagara from Kitchener in the off-season. Vandenberg was selected by the Rangers in the ninth round of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection. He played two seasons with the Rangers, including last season when he suited up in 23 games and recorded a .898 save percentage and 3.31 goals against average. Vandenberg was acquired by Niagara in exchange for defenceman Gabriel Runco, a second-round pick in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection, and a fifth-round pick in the 2027 OHL Priority Selection.

Broadcast Coverage:

Sunday's contest will be televised live across the province of Ontario on the Super Sports Pack on channel 470 for cable subscribers. The game will not be televised on Rogers TV, cable 20. The game will be streamed live online in a web browser on OHLLive.com, and on the CHL App for mobile devices including smart TV's such as Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire.

Additionally, the game will be broadcast on the radio in Kitchener and the Waterloo Region on CityNews 570 AM CKGL. Mike Farwell (play-by-play) and Paul Fixter (colour commentary) will be on the call. Fans can tune in to the radio pregame show 30 minutes prior to puck drop.

Next Up:

The Rangers will take on the Owen Sound Attack at The Aud for their second face-off of the season on Friday. Puck drop is slated for 7 pm. You can buy tickets to the action at the box office at The Aud sponsored by White Way Plumbing or online.

Check out the Kitchener Rangers Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 18, 2023


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