OHL Kitchener Rangers

Rangers Start Home-And-Home Series with Out-Of-Conference Brantford Bulldogs Friday Night

Published on December 8, 2023 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


Kitchener, ON - The Kitchener Rangers have picked up nine of ten points over their last five games. On Friday, December 8th they look to earn their third straight victory as they host the Brantford Bulldogs in the first game of a home-and-home series. Puck drop is set for 7 pm at The Aud.

TV: Rogers Channel 20 (Kitchener)

Video Stream: OHL Live on CHL TV

Radio: 570 AM CKGL

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Last Meeting:

During the 2022-23 season, the Rangers clashed twice with the Hamilton, now Brantford Bulldogs. In their most recent matchup occurring on February 20th, 2023, the Bulldogs claimed a 4-0 victory. Tristan Malboeuf, the current Rangers goaltender and former Bulldog, showcased an exceptional performance against the Rangers, securing a 40-save shutout to earn the game's first star. In their last game at The Aud on February 10th, 2023, Kitchener dominated with an 8-1 win, highlighted by Matthew Sop and Carson Rehkopf both netting hat tricks, which would be Sop's first three-goal game in the OHL.

Over the Years:

Kitchener owns the overall record of 6-4-0-0 against the Bulldogs dating back to the 2016-17 season and holds a 4-1-0-0 record when playing at The Aud. Across these 10 games, the Rangers and Bulldogs have a two-goal differential with the Rangers scoring 43 goals and allowing 45. When playing on home ice, the Rangers have scored 29 goals and have allowed only 14.

Team Statistics:

The Rangers when playing at home have a 12-2-1-0 record and the Bulldogs have a 6-5-4-0 record on the road. Kitchener has 145 goals this season, the most goals for in the league and has allowed 85. Brantford has scored 52 fewer goals at 102 and has 16 more goals against at 87 this season.

The Rangers own the fourth-best overall power play in the league converting at 28.6% and when on home ice they jump to third in the league at 31.6%. Kitchener is ranked as the fourth-best penalty kill at 83.3% and owns the league's best penalty kill when on home ice at 89.9%.

The Brantford Bulldogs are ranked 19th in the league on the power play converting at 12.4% and rising to the 16th on the road at 11.1% while their overall penalty kill is ranked 10th at 79.8%.

World Juniors Selections:

On Tuesday, December 5th Hockey Canada released their National Junior Team Selection Camp Roster of 31 players. Rangers' centreman Carson Rehkopf (Seattle Kraken) was named to that list along with Bulldogs' defenseman Jorian Donovan (Ottawa Senators). The two will be available on Friday and Saturday for their games against each other before departing for camp in Oakville, ON on Sunday, December 10th.

Rangers' forward Filip Mesar was named to Team Slovakia's preliminary roster and will be available for both games against Brantford before heading to be with Team Slovakia.

Rangers and Bulldogs Connections:

On September 28th Kitchener and Brantford made their first transaction of the season. The Rangers received goaltender Tristan Malboeuf in exchange for a conditional seventh-round selection in the 2026 OHL Priority Selection and a conditional fifth-round selection in the 2027 OHL Priority Selection. The two clubs made a second trade on November 11th. The Rangers traded defenseman Tomáš Hamara, the Ottawa Senators' third-round draft selection in the 2022 NHL Draft for a third-round selection in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection and a fourth-round selection in the 2027 OHL Priority Selection. This is both Malboeuf and Hamara's first time facing their former teams.

SCOUTING THE RANGERS (21-7-1-0)

1st in the Western Conference, 1st in the OHL / 3rd in Week 10 of the CHL Top 10

Last Time Out:

The Rangers last played on Tuesday night against the Guelph Storm, for their annual Teddy Bear Toss Game. The Rangers secured a 5-2 win, with Cameron Mercer becoming the star of the show by scoring two goals making the teddy bears downpour just 12 minutes into the game. These goals surpassed his goal count from last season and earned him the game's first star. Hunter Brzustewicz contributed with two assists, securing the second star of the game, while also being recognized for the OHL Play of the Night on Mercer's second goal. Jackson Parsons faced 25 shots and ended with an impressive .920 save percentage.

Rangers to Watch:

Rehkopf tied his career-high in goals from last season netting his 30th on Tuesday night. Rehkopf is the league's first skater to 30 goals and the first player to 30 goals in less than 30 games (29) dating back to former Erie Otter Alex DeBrincat in the 2016-17 season. Rehkopf has a 30-21-51 stat line, is tied for first in goals, tied second for points, first for insurance goals (6), and fifth in power-play goals (10) in the CHL. Rehkopf collected three goals and one assist in the last meeting between the two clubs at The Aud on February 10th. He is also currently on a point streak with six points (4G, 2A) in the last three games.

Blueliner Brzustewicz (Vancouver Canucks) leads the CHL in assists with 42 and is tied for second in the OHL for points with a 6-42-48 stat line. This season Brzustewicz has recorded multiple points in 14 of 29 games played.

Parsons remains at the top of the OHL goaltender leaderboards with the best goals-against average in the league at 2.48, the second-best save percentage at .918, the most wins at 15, and the most shutouts at 4. Parsons has yet to play against the Bulldogs in his time with the Rangers.

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS (12-9-4-1)

6th in the Eastern Conference, 12th in the OHL/ 14th in Week 10 of the OHL Power Rankings

Last Time Out:

The Brantford Bulldogs faced off against the reigning J. Ross Champions the Peterborough Petes on Thursday night where they won 4-2.

Bulldogs to Watch:

Nick Lardis (Chicago Blackhawks) has played in 25 games for the Bulldogs this season and has grabbed 19 goals, and nine assists for 28 points to lead the Bulldogs in goals and points. In the 2022-23 season, Lardis played 69 games in which he scored 37 goals and 28 assists for 65 points with both Peterborough and Hamilton. The Bulldogs' winger has played four games over the last two seasons against the Rangers collecting one goal in the most recent game on February 20th last season.

Patrick Thomas (Washington Capitals) is tied with Lardis with 28 points (6G, 22A). On February 20th against the Rangers, Thomas recorded two assists. The centreman was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the fourth round, 104th overall, in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Matteo Drobac has proven to be a backbone for the Bulldogs so far this season. Drobac's record through 21 games played is 10-6 3-1 and has recorded one shutout. He earned the first star last night against the Petes after stopping 32 of 34 shots. His save percentage has improved to 0.894 and his goals-against average to 3.34.

RANGERS REACH

Support our community while cheering on your Rangers! Rangers Reach 50/50 and game worn jersey 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! Your 50/50 and jersey ticket purchases help to make a difference in our community! Tickets can be purchased online anywhere in Ontario at Rangers5050.com and rangersjersey.com

BROADCAST COVERAGE

Friday's game vs the Brantford Bulldogs 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.

UP NEXT:

The Rangers finish up a home-and-home series against the Bulldogs on Saturday night in Brantford with a 7 pm puck drop at the Brantford Civic Centre followed by their third game of the weekend in Guelph on Sunday at 4 pm. The Rangers then return home for their last home game until the new year on Friday, December 15th at 7 pm. Grab your tickets to the action at The Aud Box Office sponsored by White Way Plumbing.

Check out the Kitchener Rangers Statistics

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 8, 2023


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