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OHL Kitchener Rangers

Kitchener Returns to Aud the to Face the Niagara IceDogs

December 1, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


Kitchener, ON - The Rangers picked up four of six points on the road this week to advance their road record to 8-5-0-0. Now, the Rangers are set to host the Niagara IceDogs on Friday at 7 pm for an out-of-conference battle at The Aud. There are still great seats to watch your first-place Rangers available at The Aud Box Office or online here.

TV: Rogers Channel 20 (Kitchener)

Video Stream: OHL Live on CHL TV

Radio: 570 AM CKGL

HEAD-TO-HEAD

This Season:

On October 18th, the Rangers travelled to St. Catharines to face off against the Niagara IceDogs where they secured a 7-4 victory. 10 Rangers contributed to the scoresheet, highlighted by Carson Rehkopf who tallied two goals and an assist. Luca Romano, and Adrian Misaljevic both netted two goals each, while Hunter Brzustewicz had an impressive three-assist performance. Mitchell Martin also contributed with a goal and an assist. Going the other way, seven IceDogs tallied points in the game most notably Alex Assadourian with two goals and Mike Levin with two assists.

History Between Clubs:

In the past 11 encounters between the Rangers and IceDogs, spanning from the 2016-17 season onwards, Kitchener has asserted dominance, holding an 8-2-1-0 overall record. Specifically, at The Aud, they've maintained a strong 4-1-0-0 record. Throughout the 2022-23, 2017-18, and 2016-17 seasons the Rangers went undefeated against them.

Teams Statistics:

Heading into Friday's game, Kitchener has netted 60 more goals than Niagara and allowed 23 fewer goals than them. The Rangers hold an impressive 11-2-0-0 record when playing at home, with their only two losses occurring against Owen Sound. On the other side, Niagara has only won two away games this season with a 2-7-1-1 road record.

When it comes to special teams the Rangers hold the league's third-best power play, operating at 28.4%, which rises to second place when playing at home with a 30.4% conversion rate. Additionally, the Rangers hold the fourth-best penalty kill in the league at 84.4%. Notably, at The Aud, the Rangers dominate with the league's second-best penalty kill, reaching an impressive 90.2% success rate.

Niagara holds the 19th position in the league's overall power play at 9%. This ranking remains consistent when playing away at 8.3%. The IceDogs penalty kill is currently 15th at 77.7%, which improves to 12th place at 78.7% when playing on the road.

SCOUTING THE RANGERS (19-7-0-0)

1st in the Western Conference, 1st in the OHL/ 4th in Week 8 of the CHL Top 10 Rankings

Last Time Out:

On Wednesday night in Erie, the Otters clawed back from a 3-1 deficit to take the lead with five minutes left in regulation. However, Matthew Sop then scored a crucial game-tying goal just over three minutes before the end of regulation, forcing the game into overtime. In the extra period, Sop netted his second goal of the game, securing the win. Brzustewicz and Misaljevic provided the assists for both the game-tying and game-winning goal.

Rangers to Watch:

Matthew Sop has solidified himself as a top player marking his name on several league leaderboards. He is in a four-way tie for most game-winning goals in the CHL (5), in the OHL he is second for points (42), fifth in assists (25) and third for power play assists (11). Over his past three games, Sop has recorded seven points (4G, 3A) putting him on a three-game point streak.

Rangers blueliner Hunter Brzustewicz (Vancouver Canucks) continues to sit atop all defencemen in the CHL with 42 points. Brzustewicz stays as the top assist-getter in the CHL with 36. He has only gone pointless in four of his 26 games played this season. In the last game between the Rangers and IceDogs, Brzustewicz collected three assists for the game's first star and on Wednesday night Brzustewicz had two key assists.

Jackson Parsons continues to impress staying at the top of all four goaltender leaderboards. He holds the best goals-against average in the league at 2.43, the second-best save percentage at .921, tied for the most shutouts (4), and has the third most wins for all CHL goaltenders (14). Against Niagara on October 18th, Parsons faced 40 shots finishing the game with a .900 save percentage.

SCOUTING THE ICEDOGS (4-15-4-1)

10th in the Eastern Conference, 20th in the OHL

Last Time Out:

Niagara travelled to Brantford to take on the Bulldogs on Wednesday night where they fell short 3-2 for their sixth consecutive loss, their seventh road loss of the season. In Niagara's two goals of the game, six IceDogs contributed a point. Rafek Dianov and Ryan Roobroeck got both goals while William Stewart, Ethan Czata, Alex Assadourian, and Zakary Lavoie grabbed an assist each. Goaltender Owen Flores faced 39 shots finishing the game with a .923 save percentage.

IceDogs to Watch:

Kevin He is leading the IceDogs in points with a 10-6-16 stat line. Before Wednesday night's game against Brantford, He was on an eight-game point streak with 10 points (5G, 5A) in these eight games.

Alex Assadourian has played 16 games with the IceDogs this season and has grabbed three goals and eight assists for 11 points. Assadourian had two goals against the Rangers in their first meeting of the season. The centreman registered an assist in their most recent game on Wednesday against the Bulldogs.

2023 OHL Priority Selection second overall pick Ryan Roobroeck has made a presence for the IceDogs with 10 goals and four assists for 14 points through 19 games played. Roobroeck is ranked sixth in league rookies for points. He suited up for Team Canada Red in the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge last month where he put up three goals and an assist in his seven games played.

MARCUS VANDENBERS RETURN TO KITCHENER

In the 2020 OHL Priority Selection the Kitchener Rangers selected Marcus Vandenberg in the ninth round, 177th overall. Vandenberg played 29 games with the Rangers over two seasons before being traded to Niagara in the offseason. Kitchener received defenceman Gabriel Runco, a second-round selection in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection and a fifth-round pick in the 2027 OHL Priority Selection. This past season Vandenberg played in 23 games for the Rangers recording a 3.31 goals against average and a .898 save percentage. He finished the 2022-23 season with a 9-9-1-0 record. Friday's game at The Aud will be the first time Vandenberg will be on the opposing side since the trade.

BROADCAST COVERAGE

Friday's game vs the Niagara IceDogs 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's action on the radio on CityNews 570 AM CKGL.

UP NEXT:

The Rangers head to Sarnia to face the Sting on Sunday afternoon for a 2 pm puck drop at The Progressive Auto Sales Arena. The Rangers will then face their divisional rivals the Guelph Storm for their annual Teddy Bear Toss on Tuesday, December 5th. Be sure to bring your new teddy bears to throw on the ice after the Rangers' first goal of the game. Puck drop is set for 7 pm at The Aud. Come watch the best team in the OHL and get your tickets at The Aud Box Office sponsored by White Way Plumbing or online.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 1, 2023


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