Rangers Round up Bulls 6-2

Published on January 9, 2014 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Belleville Bulls News Release


BELLEVILLE, ON - It was 38 minutes of solid hockey from the Belleville Bulls on Wednesday. The rest of the night wasn't much to write home about. Radek Faksa scored with 1:15 remaining in the second period to give the Kitchener Rangers a 2-1 lead and the blueshirts didn't look back, scoring four times in the third for an eventual 6-2 final. Justin Bean's first career OHL goal was the highlight of the night for a Bulls team that will have a quick turnaround going into Peterborough for a big game on Thursday.

The Bulls carried much of the play and were superior to their opponent when it came to puck possession on Wednesday. In terms of being opportunistic though, the Rangers came out on top, scoring six times on 28 shots.

Belleville got the night started in fine style with Michael Cramarossa potting his fifth of the season just 38 seconds into the first period with an assist to Adam Bignell. Bignell's first point of the season came on a Cramarossa wraparound goal as he beat big goaltender Jordan DeKort across his crease to make the score 1-0.

DeKort was big in the minutes to follow as the Bulls registered some quality scoring chances. A sprawling pad save, followed by a denial of the rebound on Andrew Ming kept the Rangers within a goal until Brent Pedersen knotted things up at 12:15.

The former first round pick Pedersen struck on a one-timer from the high slot on a play orchestrated by the creativity of Nick Magyar off the rush. Pedersen stepped into a slapshot that beat Charlie Graham over the shoulder.

The Bulls outshot Kitchener 12-6 in the first frame as the two clubs came away tied 1-1. Belleville was very physical in the first period, coming hard on the forecheck at a young Kitchener defence corps.

Chances came and went for the Bulls in the second. A pair of powerplays featured some nice puck movement by the trio of Stephen Harper, Remi Elie and Aaron Berisha to no avail as DeKort was steady in the Kitchener crease.

Scott Simmonds had a glorious scoring chance turned aside by the big 6 foot 4 wingspan of DeKort sliding across his crease laterally to take away a one-timer opportunity from the slot. Remi Elie snuck a shot under the armpit of DeKort moments later but the pick just trickled wide of an open net.

A strange yet legitimate goal put the Rangers in front in the late stages of the second period. Curtis Meighan took the puck down the boards in the offensive zone, putting a low shot on goal that wasn't smothered by Graham as Radek Faksa was on the doorstep to poke the puck over the goal line for his 16th of the campaign.

Despite leading the shooting column 26-18 through fourty minutes, the Bulls were deflated in the third as they allowed four goals for the Rangers to take a surehanded victory.

Max Iafrate showed shades of his father and former Bull Al Iafrate with a big slapshot from the point to beat Graham through the legs at 2:01 of the third period.

A turnover behind the Belleville blueline wound up in the back of the net just over a minute later. Darby Llewellyn scored his 20th of the season from Matia Marcantuoni on a cross-crease pass to give the Rangers a 4-1 lead.

Faksa picked up his second of the night on the powerplay at 6:12, taking a pass from Ben Fanelli before snapping a shot under the armpit of Graham. 

Mike Davies picked up his second of the season on another errant pass in the defensive zone by Belleville. Davies snapped a wrist shot over the blocker of Graham unassisted to make the score 6-1 and bring Jason Da Silva into the game.

Justin Bean sent the Belleville faithful home on a high note with his first career OHL goal through the legs of DeKort at 17:41 from Jake Marchment and Aaron Berisha.

The 6-2 loss sees the Bulls drop to 11-25-2-2 on the season, four points behind the Ottawa 67's for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls are now 3-9-0-0 against Western Conference opponents this season.

Radek Faksa was named the game's first star with two goals while rookie Nick Magyar was the second star of the night. Justin Bean took third star honours in the loss.

Belleville was without defenceman Jake Worrad (upper body) while rookies Justin Lemcke and Adam Laishram returned to the lineup after time spent with the Ontario Under 17 team. Overaged forward Cameron Brace served the third game of a five game suspension.

The Bulls will have to shake off a less than memorable performance on Wednesday before heading to Peterborough for a Thursday night tilt with the Petes at 7:05pm. Bulls voice Jack Miller will have pre-game coverage beginning at 6:50pm on AM 800 CJBQ. Follow along with the Bulls' Twitter feed (@OHLBulls) for full coverage!

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 9, 2014


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