NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Kitchener Rangers

Rangers Record Saturday Victory, Sweep Season Series with Niagara

February 4, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


St. Catharines, Ont. - Hunter Brzustewicz and Carson Rehkopf recorded three-points each and Rehkopf scored the game-winning goal to lift the Rangers to a 6-5 victory over the Niagara IceDogs in front of 4,913 fans Saturday night. Francesco Pinelli and Matthew Sop both had a goal and an assist, Filip Mesar added two assists and Marcus Vandenberg made 30 saves on 35 shots in the win. Kitchener won both contests over Niagara to sweep the season series this year. Saturday's triumph was the Rangers' second in as many nights.

The teams traded goals twice in the opening period as Kitchener held two one-goal leads, but Niagara had a response each time. Roman Schmidt (Tampa Bay Lightning) opened the scoring at 8:56 on this third goal of the year with a point shot that founds its way through a screen.

For the third straight game Kitchener allowed a power-play goal. Zakary Lavoie benefited from a cross-crease pass from the goal line to the bottom of the right circle for Lavoie to one-time the puck past a sliding Marcus Vandenberg.

Kitchener regained the lead at 17:47 as Francesco Pinelli (Los Angeles Kings) netted his 30th goal of the season for the Rangers. A Hunter Brzustewicz shot was stopped by the pad of Josh Rosenzweig, but the rebound was launched out to Pinelli who took the puck to his backhand, sliding it into the empty net. With 40 seconds left in the period Niagara tied the game for the second time. David Jesus scored his second of the season skating with the puck into the high slot beating Marcus Vandenberg blocker side.

The scored was knotted at 2-2 and shots favoured the Rangers 11-10.

Niagara thought they had taken their first lead of the game to open the second period, but the play was called back for offside. The top line of Arucri-Pinelli-Martin combined for a sweet passing play getting every forward involved as they took their third lead of the game. At 12:03, Mitchell Martin finished off the passing play with a redirect in the slot past the Niagara goaltender in desperation mode.

As in the first period, Niagara found a response. This time, just 36 seconds later, Kevin He collected a loose puck in the high slot and ripped a shot over the blocker of Marcus Vandenberg. A late period push by the Rangers saw them take a 4-3 lead and that lead would remain into the second intermission. Matthew Sop with a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle beating the Niagara goaltender under the blocker arm.

As the teams headed to the locker-room for the second intermission, Kitchener led 4-3. The Rangers peppered the IceDog goal in the second outshooting Niagara 19-5 in the period and led 30-16 in the game.

If you have followed the pattern in the game so far you could have guessed that at 10:54 Niagara tied the game up at 4-4. Declan Waddick got his goal after his second period attempt was ruled out off offside. Kitchener took their fifth and final lead of the game as Hunter Brzustewicz started and ended the play by following the puck to the net and knocked it over the goal line. Kitchener had to wait until there was 1:48 left on the clock to earn their first two-goal lead of the night as Carson Rehkopf finished off a sweet solo effort for his 21st goal of the season. Declan Waddick scored his second goal of the game with six seconds left on the clock and the goalie pulled but it was too little too late as the Rangers would hold on for a 6-5 win.

Final shots in the game ended 46-35 in favour of the Rangers. Kitchener finished the game 0-for-1 on the power-play and 1-for-2 on the penalty kill. Carson Rehkopf earned the game's first star with one goal and two assists. Hunter Brzustewicz earned the games second start also with one goal and two assists.

Next Up: Kitchener wraps-up their three-in-three weekend Sunday with their second matchup against the Storm this week. Puck drop is set for 2 p.m. at the Sleeman Centre.

Check out the Kitchener Rangers Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Ontario Hockey League message board...

Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 4, 2023


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Kitchener Rangers Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central