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OHL Kitchener Rangers

Rangers Drop Last Home Game in 2023

December 29, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


Kitchener returned from the holiday break to a packed house full of 7,266 fans for their last home game of 2023. However, Flint stole the show winning 5-3 on the back of Nolan Dann with two goals and Nathan Day being instrumental in killing all seven of the Rangers' powerplays.

Despite the loss, the Rangers had some positives. Cameron Arquette scored his first career OHL goal and Trent Swick extended his point streak to six games. Matthew Sop won 15 of 19 faceoffs in the contest and their penalty kill was a perfect three for three.

Scoring Summary:

1st Period

FLNT 0, KIT 1

0:41 Trent Swick (16) - Matthew Sop, Hunter Brzustewicz

Hunter Brzustewicz cut down from the point and deflected a Flint pass to Matthew Sop. Sop tapped the puck forward toward the slot where Trent Swick was standing and rifled it home. The goal was scored on the first shot of the game.

FLNT 1, KIT 1

3:34 Coulson Pitre (15) - Kaden Pitre, Matthew Jenken

Carson Pitre tied the game on a shot from the slot. Pitre held the puck in the high slot and sent a shot in on Jackson Parsons. The puck beat Parsons as he was screened to tie the game at one.

FLNT 1, KIT 2

17:32 Luke Ellinas (5) - Simon Motew, Cameron Reid

Luke Ellinas found the puck loose in front of the net and tucked it in allowing Kitchener to regain the lead. Cameron Reid passed the puck atop the zone to Simon Motew. Motew walked in and sent a wrist shot on the net that was deflected many times on its way. Nathan Day made the original stop, however the rebound sat loose in front of him. Ellinas found the puck and brought it to his backhand, neatly putting it behind Day.

FLNT 2, KIT 2

19:31 Nolan Dann (10) - Coulson Pitre, Tristan Bertucci

The play was four on four as Nolan Dann tied the game with penalties to Kaden Pitre at 18:14 and to Simon Motew at 18:53. The Firebirds found themselves on a three-on-two breakout which led to a tic-tac-toe passing play finished with a one-time slapshot from Dann to beat Parsons and tie the game once again.

2nd Period

FLNT 3, KIT 2

2:30 Nolan Dann (11) - Coulson Pitre

A defensive turnover allowed Nolan Dann to score his second goal of the game. Coulson Pitre picked the puck off a Rangers pass and sent a pass to Dann. He then put the puck past Parsons giving Flint their first lead of the game.

FLNT 4, KIT 2

12:07 Jeremy Martin (9) - Nathan Aspinall

Flint extended their lead to two with their third unanswered goal. The puck was turned over in the neutral zone leading to a quick Firebirds breakout. A nice passing play between Nathan Aspinall and Jeremy Martin between Kitchener's defenders gave Martin the space to put them up by two.

3rd Period

FLNT 4, KIT 3

3:54 Cameron Arquette (1) - Kyle Morey, Matheas Stark

Kitchener cut the lead down to one as Kyle Morey was launched onto a breakaway by Matheas Stark. On the breakaway, he made a perfect wrist shot far pad on Day for a rebound to the weak side where Cameron Arquette was driving. Arquette then buried the puck for the first time in his young OHL career.

FLNT 5, KIT 3

19:14 Zacharie Giroux (15) - Braeden Kressler, Tristan Bertucci - SHG, EN

A shorthanded 6-4 goal against put the game to rest. A blocked shot in the offensive zone from the stick of Matthew Sop led to the goal scored by Zacharie Giroux.

The Stars:

First Star: Coulson Pitre (1G, 2A)

Second Star: Nolan Dann (2G)

Third Star: Cameron Arquette (1G)

The Goalies:

Nathan Day got the start for the Firebirds; he recorded a win to bring his record to 12-15-0-1 (W-L-OTL-SOL). Day was key in the Flint win making 23 of 26 saves, including killing four straight penalties to end the third period. Jackson Parsons started for the Rangers recording a loss, moving his record to 17-7-1-0 (W-L-OTL-SOL). Parsons made 24 of 28 saves including an incredible diving stop halfway through the third to keep the Rangers within reach.

The Numbers Game:

Shots: FLNT 29, KIT 26

Powerplay: FLNT 0-3, KIT 0-7

FO%: FLNT 38.9%, KIT 61.1%

Up Next: The Rangers are on the road for their next two games in Owen Sound and Oshawa before returning home for a rare Thursday night game. They will take on the Saginaw Spirit on January 4th for the third time this season. The two teams have split the season series at a game apiece, each winning at home. Tickets can be purchased at the Aud box office sponsored by White Way Plumbing or online.

Check out the Kitchener Rangers Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 29, 2023


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