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OHL Kitchener Rangers

The Rangers Stay Hot After a Win in Niagara

October 18, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


Kitchener Rangers' Mitchell Martin celebrates with team
Kitchener Rangers' Mitchell Martin celebrates with team
(Kitchener Rangers, Credit: Natalie Shaver/OHL Images)

St. Catharines, ON - Kitchener won their third straight game on Wednesday night against Niagara 7-4. Luca Romano recorded his first and second OHL goals in the contest, including the first goal of the game to get the Blueshirts going. Hunter Brzustewicz brought his point streak to seven games in the win, recording three assists. Carson Rehkopf and Adrian Misaljevic both recorded two goals in the contest, putting them tied for the lead in OHL goals and Rehkopf now leads the league in points with 16.

The first period was all about goaltending as both goalies shined. Niagara came out flying with seven shots in the first three minutes while Kitchener had just one. They led the shots until Urban Podrekar took a tripping penalty and sent Kitchener on a powerplay. Though unsuccessful the powerplay had many high danger chances that led to some Kitchener momentum. This would turn with 6:08 left as Niagara took back the momentum, however, Jackson Parsons hung on tight in net to keep the score 0-0.

The Rangers went on the powerplay with 1:26 remaining in the period and finally broke through Owen Flores. Matthew Sop controlled the puck down low and made a pass to a cutting Luca Romano who buried it for his first career OHL goal. Romano was Kitchener's 11th overall selection in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection. Sop began a three-game streak with this assist, and he now has nine points in the past three games, Brzustewicz also continued his point streak on this goal, he now has recorded 16 points over the span of his seven-game streak.

The score was 1-0 Kitchener and shots were 14-10 Blueshirts heading into the second period.

Rehkopf started the Rangers off in the second period with a rocket of a shot from the top of the offensive zone. Flores stood no chance on this shot with Trent Swick's 6'6" frame screening him. Rehkopf's goal came only 41 seconds into the period to continue his four-game point streak. This goal now puts him at 10 points in the past four games and eight goals on the year. Brzustewicz and Matthew Andonovski recorded assists on the goal. This is Andonovski's third straight game with a point.

Mitchell Martin continued the scoring 1:27 into the second period on a three-on-one. Sop found Martin on the other side of the crease who finished the job on an empty net. Tanner Lam was the third forward down and was credited with an assist as he passed the puck to Sop. This goal extends Sop's point streak to three games and Kitchener's offense continued to stay hot.

A few minutes later, Misaljevic was left all alone in the slot and he buried Kitchener's third unanswered goal of the period just 4:01 into the frame on a pass from Rehkopf. Brzustewicz recorded his third assist of the night on this goal launching him from third place to first place in OHL assists.

Parsons made a huge save on Gavin Bryant while the Rangers were on the powerplay. Bryant held the puck as he charged toward Parsons and held it a second too long and Parsons was able to flail a leg into the air and make a kick save to keep the score 4-0 Kitchener with 5:01 remaining in the second period. The score stayed at 4-0 for the rest of the period and Kitchener would lead the shots 26-25.

The Rangers went down short-handed early to start the third period as Misaljevic took a four-minute high-sticking penalty 21 seconds in. However, the Rangers killed all four minutes, giving up only three shots on the kill.

The IceDogs scored their first goal of the game at 14:01 as Alex Assadourian received the puck in the high slot on a passing play and scored blocker side. Mathieu Paris and Connor Federkow were awarded with assists on the goal. Niagara would not stop there bringing themselves within two goals of the Rangers with 13:43 remaining. Andrew Wycisk carried the puck end-to-end on the powerplay splitting the D to go on a breakaway. He scored five-hole on Parsons to make the score 4-2, with the lone assist going to goaltender Flores.

Luke Ellinas and Romano went down on a two-on-none with 10 minutes remaining but could not put the Blueshirts up three on the opportunity. Shortly after with 8:06 left in the game, Rehkopf picked apart Flores on his razor of a shot for his second goal of the game. Rehkopf stripped the puck off Niagara at their blueline and darted the puck in the top corner. The solo effort goal put Kitchener up 5-2 and launched him to first in the league in OHL points.

The IceDogs did not give up, four minutes later to bring themselves back within two Bryant cut across the crease and buried the puck on his backhand. This would make the score to 5-3. Mike Levin and Bronson Ride recorded assists on the goal.

Romano put the game away after scoring his second goal of the game with 2:56 remaining. He capitalized on a loose puck and sent it into the IceDogs empty net. Niagara responded scoring a short-handed goal with 56 seconds remaining in the game. Assadourian scored his second goal of the game on a shot from the slot and made the score 6-4 Rangers.

The East Avenue Blue added their second empty-net goal with 32 seconds remaining. Misaljevic scored his second goal of the game to retie Rehkopf atop the league lead in goals with nine goals each. This goal would finalize the score 7-4 Rangers despite them being outshot by Niagara 40-36. The three assists from Brzustewicz put him into a tie with Misaljevic and Rehkopf at the top of the OHL scoring race.

Flores made 28 of 34 potential saves and Parsons stopped 36 of 40 shots in his fourth win of the year. Kitchener went 1/4 on the powerplay and 4/5 on the penalty kill. The third star of the game was Assadourian of Niagara who tallied two goals. Second star of the game went to Rehkopf with two goals and an assist. The first star was awarded to Brzustewicz with three assists.

Up Next: Kitchener look to continue their winning ways back at home Friday, October 20th for a rematch vs Owen Sound. Tickets can be found at The Aud box office sponsored by White Way Plumbing or online.

Check out the Kitchener Rangers Statistics




Images from this story

Kitchener Rangers' Mitchell Martin celebrates with team
Kitchener Rangers' Mitchell Martin celebrates with team
(Natalie Shaver/OHL Images)		   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 18, 2023


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