Kitchener Hosts Owen Sound for Second Match-Up on Friday at the Aud
October 20, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release
Kitchener, ON - The Rangers are coming into Friday's contest on a three-game win streak. Kitchener will host the Owen Sound Attack for the second battle of the season at The Aud. Puck drop is set for 7 pm. There are still great seats available that you can get at the Box Office at The Aud sponsored by White Way Plumbing or online here.
TV: Rogers Channel 20 (Kitchener)
Video Stream: OHL Live on CHL TV
Radio: 570 AM CKGL
Head- to-Head:
Kitchener and Owen Sound have faced off 35 times since the 2018-19 season. The Rangers hold the advantage over the Attack with a record of 20-11-3-1. On home ice, the Rangers also hold the advantage with an 11-6-1-0 record against them. The first meeting between the two clubs this season was on October 6th which the Rangers fell short in a 5-2 loss.
That game was Colby Barlow's first game of the season for the Attack after being released from Winnipeg Jets training camp. Barlow had two goals and an assist in the game. Attack goaltender Carter George was a game-changer for the Attack having stopped 34 of 36 shots.
Since last playing Owen Sound, the Rangers have won three of four games played. Over the past three games, the Rangers have scored 26 goals and have only allowed six. The Blueshirts are currently fifth in the OHL rankings.
Owen Sound has just returned from a trip up North this past week after winning one of three games played. The Attack dropped their first two games of the road trip to North Bay and Sudbury. In their last game played on Saturday night, Owen Sound faced the third-place Sault Ste. Marie. The Attack is currently ranked eighth in the OHL.
Owen Sound's special teams have been their advantage point as they currently own the third-best power play in the OHL at 27.3% and are ranked 10th-best on the penalty kill at 83.3%. Kitchener ranks sixth for their power play at 25.9% and 13th for their penalty-kill at 78.1%.
Scouting the Rangers:
The East Avenue Blue have a record of 6-2-0-0 through their first eight games played ranking them fifth in the OHL standings. The Rangers are running the OHL leaderboards, as they hold three of the top five point-getters. Tied for second in the league for points, are Adrian Misaljevic (9G, 7A), Carson Rehkopf (9G, 7A), and Hunter Brzustewicz (4G, 12A) with 16 points. Misaljevic and Rehkopf are tied for the top goal scorer in the OHL and are both on a four-game point streak that started in Saginaw on October 7th. Brzustewicz currently has a point in seven straight games. He also leads the OHL in assists and all defensemen in points. Following behind Brzustewicz on the Rangers' back end is Matthew Andonovski (Ottawa) with six points (2G, 4A). Andonovski has also entered a three-game point streak in Niagara.
The Rangers' offense has been explosive with Matthew Sop, Mitchell Martin, Tanner Lam and Simon Motew entering three-game point streaks after Wednesday's game. Sop is fifth in the OHL in assists with nine, and four goals, tallying a total of 13 points. The Rangers' second pick in the first round of the 2023 OHL Priority Selection, Luca Romano also grabbed his first and second OHL goals against Niagara.
Jackson Parsons has now entered the goaltender leaderboard for the fifth most wins in the OHL with four and first in shutouts on the season with two. Parsons goals against average is 2.97 and his save percentage is 0.895. Both stats are stronger than his first two seasons as a Ranger.
Scouting the Attack:
Owen Sound has a record of 4-2-1-0 to start the year. In the Attack's last game on Saturday, October 14th against the Soo. Cedrick Guindon (Montreal) had a four-point night with a goal and three assists and Braedyn Rogers scored his first OHL goal while Carter George recorded a 34-shot shutout in the 4-0 win.
George has been the backbone for the team with a goals-against average of 1.81 which is good enough for second best amongst all OHL goaltenders and a save percentage of .943 which is currently the best in the OHL.
Veteran Deni Goure leads the Attack in points and goals with nine total (6G, 3A). Following closely behind Goure is defenseman Sam Sedley who has put up eight points (2G, 6A).
Despite missing the first two games of the season Owen Sound Captain Colby Barlow (Winnipeg) is the leading goal scorer and is fourth for them in points (5G, 1A).
On Tuesday, October 16th Owen Sound announced coaching changes effective immediately. Assistant coach Darren Rumble was named as interim head coach for the Attack until further notice. Rumble was hired by the Attack in the off-season from the QMJHL Gatineau Olympiques. Rumble played for the Rangers from 1986-1989.
Broadcast Coverage:
Friday's contest vs Owen Sound will be televised live throughout Kitchener and the Waterloo Region on Rogers TV, cable channel 20, and can be watched across the province of Ontario on the Super Sports Pak on channel 470 for cable subscribers. The game will be streamed live online on OHL Live on CHL TV. Additionally, fans can listen to Friday night's action on the radio on CityNews 570 AM CKGL.
Rangers Reach: Support our community while cheering on your Rangers! Rangers Reach 50/50 Raffles take place at each Rangers home game and proceeds go to support our many community initiatives, including Scholarships, Community Impact Grants, in-kind donations, and more! Tickets start at just $5 and can be purchased online anywhere in Ontario at Rangers5050.com
Next Up:
The Rangers have a quick turnaround on Saturday afternoon in Mississauga to face the Steelheads. Puck drop is set for 4 pm at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre. Kitchener returns to the Aud on Tuesday, October 24th to host the Sarnia Sting for a 7:00 pm start. Tickets are available at The Aud Box Office Sponsored by White Way Plumbing or online.
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